FIVE doctors at Musgrove Park Hospital in Taunton are donning their lycra and cycling across Somerset – to raise money for a new MRI scanner.

And they are inviting local people to join them in the cycle challenge on Sunday, April 22, starting and finishing at Taunton Racecourse.

There is the choice of two rides from 50km to 100km to the coast and around the Blackdown Hills.

The challenge is being run by doctors Peter Campbell, who works in care of the elderly, James Heal and Pradeep Madhavan, both in orthopaedics, Justin Phillips, anaesthetics, and consultant urologist Nick Burns-Cox.

The two existing MRI scanners at Musgrove are at full capacity and the hospital urgently needs a new one to continue to offer the best possible support to patients who need it the most.

An additional scanner will help provide care to patients who may have breast cancer, neurological conditions, cardiac problems, prostate cancer, tumours, spinal injuries and musculoskeletal disorders.

Without it patients with serious illnesses may face a longer wait before diagnosis or have to travel to other parts of the country.

Dr Burns-Cox said: “This is a great opportunity to help raise the final funds we need to purchase this fantastic MRI scanner, which will ensure that the people of Somerset get the most up to date scan without having to wait.”

Entry to the cycle challenge is £15 per rider, which covers the cost of administration as well as a Team Love Musgrove T-shirt.

Every penny raised through sponsorship will go direct to the Love Musgrove MRI scanner appeal.

For more information contact Love Musgrove on [email protected], 01823 344 437, @LoveMusgrove on Twitter, or search for ‘Love Musgrove’ on Facebook.