A WOMAN cycled 54 miles from London to Brighton to raise money for the British Heart Foundation, despite having had major surgery just months before.

Clare Hasprey, 35, from Newport, rode in memory of her friend Paula New's baby, Alana, who died from a congenital heart condition when she was just three days old. She made the decision to join Team Alana’s London to Brighton challenge nine months ago, just before she underwent a hip replacement operation. After months of rehabilitation and training, Ms Hasprey completed the gruelling ride in nine-and-a-half hours.

Ms Hasprey, a specification manager at Quinn Radiators in Newport, helped raise double the original target for the charity.

She said: "With 24 miles to go my knees were hurting and swollen and I was exhausted. However, I knew I had to complete the challenge - primarily in memory of Alana but the British Heart Foundation is also very personal to me after losing my father a year ago to a heart attack.

"We set ourselves a target to raise £1,000 and thanks to the generous donations we have received so far, we have already doubled this amount."

Other members of team Alana who completed the London to Brighton bike ride were Alana’s mum Paula New, Andrea Young, Sophie, Louise and Jason Asser, Rachael Kilbey, Hannah Thornton and Ali and Adam Akhurst. Quinn Radiators sponsored Team Alana’s shirts for the 54 mile bike ride in support of the appeal. Donations can be made for the next two months at www.justgiving.com/teamalana