A CHARITY cycle ride helped raise £10,000 in memory of a dedicated midwife who died from a brain tumour.

Karyn Bent died in August 2015 at the age of 44 and a team of cyclists continue to fundraise for The Brain Tumour Charity in her honour every year.

More than £33,000 has been raised for the charity after this year's Ride4Karyn event, which was organised by Karyn's wife, Deborah Robinson.

The ride was originally scheduled to take place on March 17, but had to be postponed due to the snowstorm that hit Reading.

Deborah said: “A few brave riders turned out that day but the majority were happy to wait for the new date. Fortunately the sun shone and there was no sign of snow.

“All of the riders had big smiles on their faces and said how pretty the route had been. One of the marshals said it was a great way to spend her precious day off, helping people, raising money and getting to feel good about herself.

“It was an incredible day made so special by all the amazing people who turned up to take part in memory of Karyn and to help raise awareness of the cause.”

Guests were invited to cycle 12 or 24 miles around Theale and take in the picturesque surrounds of the village.

Karyn, who lived in Burghfield Common and worked at the Royal Berkshire Hospital, immediately underwent surgery after developing an aggressive glioblastoma.

Despite the treatment the tumour grew back and Karyn died on August 11.

More than 11,000 people in the UK are diagnosed with a brain tumour every year.

Geraldine Pipping, head of fundraising, said: “We are incredibly grateful for all the efforts made by the Ride4Karyn 2018 fundraisers.

“We are committed to fighting for all those people whose lives are turned upside down by this devastating disease.

“We receive no Government funding and rely 100 per cent on voluntary donations, so it is only through the efforts of people like Deborah and all her friends, that we can change these shocking statistics in the future.”