Staff from Skipton-based HML have been inspired to raise cash for the YEP's Yorkshire Cancer Centre Appeal by a colleague who was diagnosed with breast cancer last year.

Rachel Fawcett, people and development director at HML, underwent chemotherapy, surgery and radiotherapy to treat the illness.

She even did the 10k Jane Tomlinson Run for All just a month after finishing treatment and now her colleagues have taken up the challenge.

Mrs Fawcett, from Harrogate, was told she had cancer after finding a lump.

"It was a huge shock because you just don't think it's going to happen to you," she said. "But I have had a huge amount of support."

After diagnosis, the mum-of-two quickly started treatment.

While recovering from radiotherapy she decided to do the 10k Run for All and despite not being a runner before her illness, completed it in 1hr 15mins.

The 41-year-old raised £2,000 for the Yorkshire Cancer Centre Appeal, which is to fund extra radiotherapy equipment, research and home comforts at the new centre at St James's Hospital – where she had some of her treatment.

"I wanted to put something back," she said. "Everyone I have come across, all the staff at Cookridge and Jimmy's, everybody that I have had contact with on this horrible journey, has been fantastic."

Following her fundraising, colleagues at HML decided they would like to support the Yorkshire Cancer Centre too.

Internal communications manager Claire Burke has organised the 55-mile bike ride from the mortgage processing firm's Skipton HQ to their office in Padiham near Burnley.

The team will do the ride on September 6, with Mrs Fawcett's husband Roland representing her, and another colleague even travelling from one of the firm's other offices in Derry, N Ireland.

To contribute to HML's fundraising, email claire.burke@hml.co.uk.