A FIVE-DAY bike ride will raise money for defibrillators in memory of a man who died from a sudden heart attack while cycling.

Friends and family of Mike Hodgson will take part in the 350-mile event in tribute to the 57-year-old who died a year ago.

They will cycle from Cumbria to London, climbing 20,000 feet and passing though Bolton Abbey and Ilkley on their way.

The event is part of a national initiative launched by Mike's family, and his yoghurt company The Collective, along with The Community Heartbeat Trust to bring retired red telephone boxes back into use by fitting them with life-saving defibrillators. They are hoping to place defibrillators in at least ten retired phone boxes throughout the country.

Well-wishers are asked to visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/bike-for-mike to make a donation to the event which takes place from September 2 to 6.

Mike,who grew up in Horsforth, was a scout and venture scout in the 9th Airedale (Horsforth Grove Methodist) Group in the 1970s. While he was a boy he and his friend Jeremy Wilson set a new world record of 15 hours 35 minutes for the "Big 3" of Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon. A former pupil at Aireborough Grammar School, he was one of the founding members of the Horsforth Fellandale Club which was an outdoor pursuits club for walkers and fell-runners.

John Burland who was Mike's scout leader in Horsforth in the 70s said: "He was very fit and it came as a total surprise when we heard he had had a cardiac arrest."

He added: "I went up to Mike's funeral in the Lakes last September when there were a large number of my former Scouts and Ventures there - the church in St John's in the Vale was full to capacity."

Mike’s wife Sara, children Ben, Rosie and James and his brother Chris will be among those taking part in the ride.

Organisers are asking local people to support the bike ride either by giving the team a cheer along the way, or by donning their lycras to join a leg of the bike ride.

Amelia Harvey, from The Collective said: "Mike was a man of great vision and he had an enormous sense of fun, loved the outdoors and big adventures and was adored by family, friends and work colleagues. Mike had such a big impact on all of our lives.

"Along with Mike’s family, we are collaborating with the UK’s leading Community Defibrillator Charity, The Community Heartbeat Trust, to bring at least ten retired red telephone boxes back to life by placing life-saving defibrillators in them. This campaign pays tribute to this amazing individual and helps those suffering sudden cardiac arrests outside of hospitals, which is one of the UK’s biggest killers. Using a defibrillator instead of CPR alone can significantly improve the outcome.

Martin Fagan, National Secretary at The Community Heartbeat Trust says: "We are delighted to collaborate with The Collective and through this campaign, more areas than ever before in the UK will have access to life-saving defibrillators. Importantly, this will also raise awareness throughout the UK about what communities need to do in a cardiac emergency."

Email bikeformike@thecollectivedairy.com for more information.