THE EPIC charity bike ride to commemorate the much-missed Alan Lloyd, former groundsman at Cirencester Town, who died in 2007 on his 65th birthday, is set to become an annual event.

No fewer than 37 cyclists completed the 95-mile journeys from Brentford FC’s Griffin Park ground in London to the Corinium Stadium in Cirencester with an overnight stop at Ardington FC near Wantage.

The pelaton included club manager Brian Hughes and chairman Steve Abbley. For the second year running, the charity to benefit was Cancer Research UK and buckets were circulating inside the ground to take donations.

Alan Lloyd, son of the late groundsman and one of the organisers of the event which looks set to outstrip the £16,000 raised in the first year, said: "It has become so popular that everyone says we should do it every year.

"In 2010, though, we might open it up and support a locally-based charity, so anyone interested should get in touch with the club on 01285 654543.

Donations can still be made online at www.justgiving.com/home4alanlloyd2009.