FAMILY and friends of a brave grandmother who lost a long battle to cancer are to tackle a cycle ride in her memory.

Popular Sharon Blenkin was diagnosed with terminal cancer in July, 2009, and valiantly battled against her illness until she died in March this year.

The 48-year-old was the owner of the Pied Piper childcare centre in Mirfield and was cared for at Kirkwood Hospice in her final months.

Her son-in-law, Duncan Barraclough, said: “Sharon was an inspirational person and was highly regarded throughout Mirfield with 750 people attending her funeral.

“She fought a long battle against cancer and at no point did she give in.

“Last autumn Sharon was in Kirkwood Hospice for nine weeks and we saw at first hand the wonderful work the hospice and its staff do and so wanted to do something to support them.’’

Duncan has been with Sharon’s daughter, Rebecca, for four years and the couple brought their wedding forward by a year to last September so Sharon could be with them.

Duncan said: “Sharon organised the whole wedding in 12 weeks and it was a brilliant day.’’

The couple have just had a son, James, born seven weeks ago and Rebecca also has two daughters, six-year-old Louisa-Mai and five-year-old Cady.

Duncan, of Liversedge, said: “Four of us decided to do a sponsored bike ride from the Rising Sun at Norristhorpe to Filey – a distance of 89 miles.

“But the idea has just grown and grown as more and more people have decided they want to join us in Sharon’s memory.

“Now there will be at least 19 riders and they will cover the 89-mile journey in between four and seven hours.’’

The ride will take place on Saturday, September 10, and all the cyclists are now in training.

They have been sponsored by Duncan’s work – shower tray manufacturer Just Trays in Leeds – and A Field Haulage in Elland.

High energy drinks and bicycle repair equipment have been donated by Velocity Cycles in Lindley and cycling tops have been donated to the riders by Black Cat Design in Elland.

Sharon leaves a husband, Ian, daughter Rebecca and son James.

Anyone wanting to help the riders can do so via their web link which is http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/Just-Trays