With just days to go until the EDP Ride for Life a nurse who sees the amazing difference Norfolk's Quidenham hospice makes to the lives of children with life limiting illnesses and their families has urged people to get on their bikes.

Gina O'Herlihy will be taking part in the important charity fundraising bike ride for East Anglia's Children's Hospices (Each) with her 19-year-old son, Eoin, for the third year running.

She will be setting off from Santon Downham on the 35-mile on-road route, one of a number of routes on both bike and foot which have been organised as part of the annual event.

She has been working at Quidenham Hospice, one of the charity's three hospices in the region, for three years.

'It is very tranquil and just a nice place to work. We have one-to-one time with the children which is fantastic.

'It costs a lot of money to run these places which is why it is vital that people support these kind of things', she said. 'We do see the difference. The fact that the hospice is open and the numbers of beds have increased means we can offer extra care because we have the money to do it.

'As a nurse I work both in the hospice and out in the community. The hospice allows the children dignity. The money allows us to go into homes and look after the children in their homes.

'It allows us to cater individually for the family, which is vital.

'It is very important for a family to be a family in the nicest way they possibly can.'

Mrs O'Herlihy, who is a keen cyclist anyway, said that it was important to raise awareness of what the charity did .

She said that people contemplating joining in should 'just do it'.

'Everyone can cycle. It's no problem', she said. 'There are a lot of people and it's such a buzz. It is just lovely. We always meet people on the way. People are very friendly and smiley. It is very enjoyable. We are raising money for a local charity which is very important and it's raising money for children.'

annabelle.dickson@archant.co.uk