AN inaugural cycle challenge has raised more than £3,000 in memory of a popular young sportsman.

The Tom Parsons bike ride, which took place on Sunday, saw 60 riders taking part in a series of challenges - a ride of 35 miles, 60 miles or a 100 miler.

Tom Parsons, from West Heslerton, died while on holiday on the Greek island of Zante in 2016. The 22-year-old suffered from myocarditis, which is inflammation and damage of the heart muscle.

His parents, Sue and Nick, set up the Tom Parsons Trust, which has provided defibrillators in the community, as well as fundraising for the British Heart Foundation (BHF) towards myocarditis research.

Firefighter Bryan Barratt, who helped organised the bike ride, said: “The inaugural Tom Parsons Trust bike ride was a tremendous success with 60 riders taking part in a seriously challenging bike ride, on a gloriously sunny day.

“What initially started out as four firefighters cycling a 100 miles to raise funds for the trust, quickly developed into a large community event, with cyclists of all abilities riding for Tom.

“Each cyclist relished the challenge and there was an amazing sense of the community coming together for Tom Parsons Trust.

“The highlight has to be the swapping of stories during the post ride drinks at Malton and Norton Rugby Club, where riders compared tales of pain and woe in their attempts to ascend one of the many climbs.”

Bryan added: “There was a whole army of volunteers who came together to enable this event to take place and our most sincere thanks goes to each and every one of them.

“On behalf of Tom Parsons Trust, I would like to thank every rider and volunteer who took part in the day and made this such a fabulous and memorable occasion.”

Tom’s mum, Sue, said: “Nick and I would like to thank Bryan Barrett and Alice Hesmondhalgh for organising this very special event for the Tom Parsons Trust.

“We were also very fortunate to have Val from the British Heart Foundation (BHF) and Jon from the ambulance service to demonstrate CPR.

“We both feel very humble that so many people took to their bikes to ride in memory of Tom. He loved been out and about on his bike, and it was very fitting that Tom’s bike was ridden by Emma McKenzie on the day.

“So many people have supported this event from the riders to people manning food and water stops to donations of food and water, and, of course, everyone who has kindly given very generously to the trust raising around £3,000, which will be used to purchase and maintain defibrillators in the local area and to BHF for research into myocarditis.”

Anyone who would like to make a donation can do so at justgiving.com/crowdfunding/bryan-barrett-1 or go to the Tom Parsons Trust on Facebook