AFTER cycling almost 200 miles in two days, a Drefach Administration Manager for Mental Health Services has raised nearly £1,000 for charity.

Nicola Griffiths-Evans cycled 180 miles, visiting six Hywel Dda hospitals across Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire, travelling from Prince Phillip Hospital, in Llanelli, to Aberystwyth and then to Tenby, over the course of one weekend.

The ride, which Nicola completed with friend Lee Jones, raised money for Mind Cymru and the mental health unit at Prince Phillip, where she works.

Originally the ride was part of a larger event organised by Hywel Dda Health Board, but when that had to be cancelled, there was never any question of Nicola not completing the route.

She said: “They had to cancel it due to a lack of participants. I was disappointed when I found out but I thought there was no reason why I couldn’t do it anyway. I was extremely determined.

“We set off on Saturday from Prince Phillip Hospital where members from Bynea Cycling Club had come out to support us.”

They had more than support from some of the club, some joined them on the journey to Glangwili, and Nigel Breddy continued onwards to Lampeter.

After setting off from Llanelli at 9am they arrived in Aberystwyth 90 miles later at 7.30pm, spending the night at the university before an early start the next day to head to Tenby.

Again Lee and Nicola had company as they rode.

Nicola explained: “We were joined by Ian Thomas on the second day. Neither of us had met him before, but he told us he had seen what we were doing and wanted to help and come with us to Tenby.

“It was incredibly hot all weekend, but it was an amazing experience. I she a few tears when we finished.

“I have been cycling for four years and raised money before, but I hadn’t don’t that sort of distance over consecutive days before.”

Nicola managed to raise £722 for the Bryngofal Ward, mental health unit, where she has worked for just over a year, though she has worked for the NHS for 20 years.

A further £120 was also raised for MIND Cymru.

To donate, visit justgiving.com/fundraising/nicola-griffiths-evans.