Two friends are embarking on an epic 600-mile cycle for St Elizabeth Hospice, inspired by the memory of Suffolk tennis star Elena Baltacha.

Joshua Sheppard, nephew of Baltacha’s husband Nino, will set off with Sean Bloomfield on Monday, July 28, for a nine-day ride from Ipswich to Berlin in memory of the former British number one, who was cared for by the hospice’s Hospice at Home team in the last week of her life.

Baltacha, also known as Bally, was diagnosed with liver cancer in January and died in May, aged 30.

Joshua, 24 of Ipswich, said: “The Hospice at Home team were so caring and thoughtful to Bally that I wanted to give something back.”

To sponsor Joshua and Sean on their challenge, visit giving.stelizabethhospice.org.uk/ipswich-berlin-cycle-challenge.