A GROUP of work colleagues completed a gruelling 150-mile cycle challenge to raise nearly £5,000 for Macmillan in memory of a friend.

Fifteen employees from Northallerton-based FT Construction Group took part in the two-day Seascale to Whitby C2C route.

They undertook the challenge in memory of their colleague Barry Blackett who died in January this year aged 65.

Tessa Harker, who helped organise the event, said: “The whole weekend was just awesome - a great group of people took part in the ride and we had outstanding support from four colleagues giving up their time (in support vehicles).

“It was a completely self-funded event raising money for Macmillan Cancer in memory of lost loved ones and also in memory of our former colleague Barry Blackett, who died from lung cancer earlier this year.”

Earlier this year, colleagues from the FT Group completed the 25-mile Hadrian’s Hike in memory of Mr Blackett who was a senior project manager at Walter Thompson, part of the FT Group, for 17 years and had just retired when he died.