SWINDON CANCER APPEAL: NEWS of our Swindon Cancer Appeal is spreading across Europe.

Or at least it soon will be if Ada Grnert-Retzki has her way.

The 36-year-old from Swindon's twin town of Salzgitter in Germany took part in Sunday's Castle Mountain Bike Ride after reading about it in the Evening Advertiser.

Ada first came to Swindon 18 years ago as part of a folk dancing group and struck up a friendship with Tina Mackie, 47, from Toothill. She is in Swindon for 12 weeks and is currently working with organisers of this year's Swindon Festival.

She said: "At home I usually do a lot of horse riding but as I haven't got my horse with me I have started cycling.

"So when I read about the bike ride I thought it would be a very good idea. It was a bit more difficult than in Germany because there were more hills.

"Macmillan sounds very good. We don't have anything like it at home."

Tina said: "I've been hosting exchanges from Salzgitter for 21 years and I love it. Over the years we have got to know so many people and seen people grow up and get married."

The cash keeps rolling in for our appeal. The total now stands at £110,295, with more money on the way from Sunday's bicycle challenge.

Greendown School pupil John Young, 15, from Shaw, headed up a team of four cyclists from the school, who all completed the 25-mile ride.

He said: "I love riding my bike so when this came up I thought it was a great idea."

John estimates that between them his group will have raised at least £200.

His friend Carl Mackay, 13, a fellow Greendown pupil from Stratton said: "It was John who suggested it and I was keen to get involved.

"I have done a lot of bike rides for charity. I did my first Prospect ride when I was seven with my family. It was very hard work. There were a lot of steep hills but we were all really proud to finish it."

Appeal manager Graziella Campisano said she was pleased the cycling event had been such a success. She said: "I was standing at the start line so I had a chance to see everyone taking part."