A PROCESSION of horse riders set-off on a 12-mile journey across Caerphilly to help raise money for Breast Cancer Cymru.

Around 32 horses and riders donned pink clothes and costumes as they set off from Oakdale Business Park on Sunday on a route snaking through Blackwood and Pontllanfraith and finishing in Trethomas.

Around £742 was raised by the Islwyn Happy Hackers — a collection of riders that met through a Facebook group founded by hairdresser Hayley Romanic-Griffiths, from Blackwood.

Ms Romanic-Griffiths said: “We are a great bunch of girls who ride because we love our horses and the social aspect that brings – we had people from as far as Chepstow and Cwmbran come along for the day.

“We all felt proud to be a part of something so united and to do something for such a good cause too.

“I lost my grandmother to cancer but I know that a lot of other people in the group have associations with cancer and it is all about the memories of them.”

Ms Romanic-Griffiths is also planning to hold a fundraiser ride for the charity Jack’s Appeal on Saturday, June 5, which was founded in memory of Oakdale teenager Jack Thomas who died from a unknown heart defect.

The appeal currently raises money to donate heart defibrillators to schools across Gwent.

Ms Romanic-Griffiths added: “For us the aim will always be to remain safe, draw awareness, educate other traffic users, make friends and be part of something that wants to do good charitable things.

“I have great ideas to take me through to the end of 2016 and I look forward to making them happen.”

For more information, search Islwyn Happy Hackers on Facebook.