Record-breaking event for hospice

This grand sum was raised by the organisers and participants of the New Forest Experience bike ride and sponsored walk which was held in September.

The event, now in its third year, raised its best amount yet from this year's event.

They were helped on the way by a £10,000 donation from Lymington company Green Marine.

In all there were 341 participants on the bike challenge and 177 on the guided walks who, between them, cycled and hiked over 6,000 miles for the Oakhaven Hospice.

Oakhaven trustee Lena Proudlove said: "We are immensely grateful to the event sponsors, Ringwood Brewery and Holdon Ltd, plus all of the other local companies and benefactors for providing help in kind.

"And, of course, thanks to all those participants and voluntary organisers without whom this magnificent result would not have been possible."

The cycling team to raise the most amount of money was headed by the Oakhaven Hospice's chairman, Sir John Curtiss.

He and his team raised a bumper £2,308, winning the top team prize from Figgures bike shop.

The individual to raise most money was Mark Cooper with £1,590 and he receives a case of wine from Waitrose.

Oakhaven Hospice in Lymington cares for terminally ill people and their relatives throughout the New Forest, completely free of charge.

It costs £1.5m a year to run the hospice. Of that only 19 per cent is provided by the NHS. The rest must come from public fundraising.

Last year the hospice was forced to cut costs and make redundancies just to survive.

This year it launched its Every Penny Counts Appeal to secure more support from the community.

Oakhaven Hospice's chief executive, Kara Bishop, said: "After a difficult year we now feel confident that Oakhaven's short-term future is secured.

"However, we continue to rely hugely on the generosity and support of the people of the New Forest and on fundraising events such as the New Forest Experience in this endless battle to survive.

"This is a superb result."