HEREFORDSHIRE fundraisers the Hospice Angels swapped the British Isles for the Emerald Isle to complete a seven-day fundraising tour of Ireland.

Eight bikers returned to Hereford’s High Town on Monday, May 19, at the end of a 2,000-mile journey in aid of St Michael’s Hospice.

But for the man who started it all 15 years ago, and who has since led the group on five foreign tours to Sweden, Germany and the Orkneys, the trip may have been his last.

Grosmont resident Mike Pullen said: “I’m getting a bit long in the tooth. I’m 72, but I shall carry on raising money for St Michael’s.” The total raised by local sponsorship is not yet known but Mr Pullen, who has raised around £100,000 over the years, hopes to smash last year’s total of £15,300.

Mr Pullen said: “The Irish people are fantastic – a perfect example, which sums it up really, is when a woman stopped us in a shop doorway after seeing our sweatshirts and just gave us £20.” The bikers also visited a Sligo hospice and helped out at the motorcycle NW200 Road Race, which supports Northern Ireland Hospice Care.

Mr Pullen, a retired printer, said they collected cash from the 150,000-strong crowd of spectators and managed to raise £3,000 for the hospice out there.

They also presented the Mayor of Coleraine in Northern Ireland with a city coat of arms given to them by Hereford Mayor Councillor Chris Chappell before they left.

Coun Chappell said: “They are great ambassadors for the county and for motorcyclists.” The trip was the culmination of weeks of organisation for Mr Pullen and the group, some of whom took time off work in order to go.

They are now planning various events, including a free performance from the Dave Price Jazz Quartet at Hereford’s Left Bank Village on June 6, to hit their target of £16,000.