A FARNHAM couple are gearing up to ride 55 miles on a tandem for a charity close to their hearts.

Bridget and John Walton are set to take part in the London to Brighton cycle ride on September 15, aiming to raise money for the Royal Surrey County Hospital charity’s Closer to Care campaign.

The initiative hopes to deliver a redeveloped Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) at the hospital, for babies who are born prematurely.

The charity is close to both Bridget and John’s heart after their daughter Zoe was born 11 weeks prematurely in 2016 and spent eight weeks in Royal Surrey’s current SCBU.

The couple have already raised £5,100 but hope to raise £12,000 in total which will fund comfortable chairs for the unit that convert to beds, so parents can stay overnight with their babies.

The use of these planned facilities would have made a huge difference to Bridget, who added: “Being away from Zoe at night was the hardest thing – I cried so much as all I wanted was to be with her.

“That’s why this campaign is so important. From the time we spent in SCBU, we know how much difference comfortable chairs/beds will make to the families and the babies being cared for.”

Bridget and John have spent six months training for the race, which starts at Clapham Common and finishes on Brighton seafront.

Bridget said: “Riding a tandem is going to be a challenge. I’m not the greatest cyclist and I can’t see where I am going!”