A BUILDING society staff member has cycled 70km on a static bike to raise funds for a North-East hospice.

Ben Harland, a customer service consultant at Darlington Building Society’s Guisborough branch, has raised £550 for Teesside Hospice after completing a 70km static bike ride.

Mr Harland completed his challenge at Guisborough’s Westgate branch and cycled the distance between the company’s district branches in Redcar, Middlesbrough, Stockton, Yarm and Guisborough.

He said: “We chose to donate to Teesside Hospice because it is a local charity with a strong presence in the area. It does fantastic work to help those with life-limiting illnesses.

“We’ve had over £480 kindly donated by customers and we made a further contribution from our community support fund to take the total to £550.”

The hospice provides care to people suffering from advanced cancer and other life-limiting illnesses, as well as providing support for their families.

The hospice costs £2.5 million to run annually, of which just one third comes from the local NHS fund, meaning that the hospice must raise £5,200 every day.

Josephine Galloway, community fundraiser at Teesside Hospice, said: “To cycle 70km in one day will have certainly put Ben’s fitness level to the test.

"We are thrilled he has decided to undertake such a tough endurance challenge in support of Teesside Hospice and we are very grateful for all the money he raised.”

Colin Fyfe, chief executive officer at Darlington Building Society, said he was proud of Mr Harland, and added: “Supporting local community initiatives is very important to Darlington Building Society as is using our branches as a focal point for the local area.”

The company offers its employees at least one paid day every year to work in the community.