THEY might be lacking masks and capes, but these Lycra-clad lads are living up to their name of Kelly’s Heroes.

The cyclists formed the fundraising group to keep their friend Kelly Pope’s memory alive, after she died of bowel cancer in 2015, aged 35.

They have since saddled up for a string of sponsored rides for charities that support cancer patients, and at the weekend tackled their longest route yet.

Six of the cyclists - some of whom barely had any experience on a bike - left Carfax Tower in Oxford on Friday and spent the entire weekend pedalling to the Eiffel Tower in Paris.

Mrs Pope’s friend Darren Kinch, who was among them, said: “It’s just to remember her and keep her memory alive.

“This is definitely our hardest [challenge] so far.”

The team has previously cycled from London to Brighton, and from Oxford to Poole, raising money for various charities including Cancer Research.

Mrs Pope died at Sobell House having had end-of-life care there, so her team of heroes this year are riding to raise money for the Headington hospice.

Mr Kinch, who lives in Stadhampton near Chalgrove, said his granddad also died at Sobell back in 1999.

The father-of-two, 41, added: “It’s a long way off but I still remember it now - they were so good to us.

“They are so caring and have a more personal touch.

“There is a lot of positivity there and smiling people.”

In 2016 the Oxford Mail reported how Mrs Pope’s husband Richard had raised more than £10,000 for the hospice, including through a skydive.

Kelly’s Heroes members include her brother Gary Trinder, who was unable to take part in this ride due to injury, and Mr Kinch, who said he had known Mrs Pope since school.

He described her as a ‘fun-loving’ woman and said her loved ones were proud to keep her name going for good causes.

Speaking prior to the ride, Mr Kinch said they planned to reach Paris on Sunday.

He added: “I’ve never been to Paris before so I’m looking forward to it - I think it will be a spectacle.”

Mr Kinch, who works in sales for a builders’ merchants, is the youngest of the group.

He explained how he got on board with the cycling fundraisers to improve his fitness level.

The six men, including trip organiser Steve Riordan, part-funded the ride themselves and the eldest team member is 61.

Their cycling route took them 88 miles from Oxford to Portsmouth, where they caught the overnight ferry to Caen.

On Saturday they were set to ride 84 miles from Caen to Évreux, before completing the journey with a 66-mile ride to finish in Paris.

They have already raised £3,500 through sponsorship - to donate, visit justgiving.com/fundraising/kellysheroesoxfordtoparis.