A GROUP of nine "unfit" men are pushing themselves to the limit in memory of their friend Kelly Pope who died last year after a three-year battle with cancer.

Mrs Pope died following a three-year battle with cancer and a team of friends have been in training for months to take on the London to Brighton cycle ride for Cancer Research UK.

The men, who described themselves as "overweight, unfit and good-looking", are preparing to take on the 54-mile challenge later this month.

Darren Kinch, from Stadhampton, said they had been inspired by their friend's battle and given themselves the name "Kelly's Heroes."

Mr Kinch said: "Everyone knows someone who has either been affected by cancer or had a family member who has and we wanted to do something.

"But we call ourselves Kelly's Heroes as she inspired us to get out and do something and raise money for cancer research.

"She was just so bubbly and wonderful and she would be very surprised actually with some of us as we were quite overweight before we started training."

Mrs Pope, who worked in the pharmacy department at the John Radcliffe Hospital for 17 years, was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in April 2012 and needed emergency chemotherapy at London's Charing Cross Hospital.

Three months later she lost her 55-year-old mother, Jayne Trinder to skin cancer and had an ovary removed.

She was then diagnosed with bowel cancer in April 2013 and had part of her liver and bowel removed weeks later.

In December 2014 she was told her cancer was terminal and was moved to Sobell House Hospice the following May where she died a few weeks later.

Mr Kinch, a 39-year-old builder, was close friends with Kelly's brother Gary Trinder, who is also doing the ride, and revealed he has quit smoking as a result of Kelly's long battle with cancer.

He said: "It will be three months without a cigarette by the time we start the ride.

"We started training at the end of last year, stopped a bit around Christmas and have picked it up since April.

"Recently we have been riding three times a week, totalling something like 100 miles."

Last year a 24-strong team of Kelly's friends and family raised more than £10,000 for Sobell House Hospice in memory of Kelly.

To donate to Kelly's Heroes' cause go to justgiving.com/fundraising/Kellys-heroes2016