A GROUP of motorcyclists are gearing up to ride 500 miles on New Year's Day to raise money for St Luke's Hospice.

Ride to Raise is a group of people who decided getting on motorbikes would be a great idea to help raise funds for those in need.

Three members of the group didn’t have motorcycle licences at the time – or even own motorbikes – but have since passed and will now be 'riding to raise' for the group's first charity event.

Simon Boone said: "We are doing a 500-mile charity motorcycle ride on New Year's Day, leaving at 4.30am from St Luke’s in Winsford and riding to Portsmouth and back.

"The aim is to raise as much as we can and the ultimate goal would be that each rider raised £500 doing the event.

"We shall also be doing live Facebook feeds during the day."

Simon Boone, along with Dan Ford, will be completing the full 500 miles.

Meanwhile, Martin Everson will be joining them from Cheltenham to Portsmouth and back.

Tony Boone, David Wheeler and his partner Roxanne are all riding out at 4pm to meet the group at Kidderminster to ride back for the last few hours.

The plan is to finish by 8pm.

To donate to Ride to Raise's efforts, visit justgiving.com/fundraising/ridetoraisenewyears500.

You can also follow them on Facebook at facebook.com/ridetoraise.