TWO cricket writers are cycling around 18 first-class grounds to raise money for a charity trust set up in the name of a Herefordshire teenager.

Colin Bateman of the Daily Express and David ‘Toff’ Lloyd of the Evening Standard are spending 16 days on the 1,006-mile charity cycle ride.

The aim is to raise money for two charities.

One is the Teenage Cancer Trust Laurie Engel Fund set up in memory of Laurie, who died aged just 13 in 2005.

Laurie was the son of former Wisden editor Matthew Engel, who lives in Herefordshire.

The fund is helping to build a new specialist unit for young cancer patients in Birmingham.

The other is Heads Up, which is researching into the cause of head and neck cancer.

The charity’s patron is Hugh Morris, now managing director of the England cricket team.

“We’ve had hundreds of people doing sponsored events for Laurie’s fund over the past three years,” said Matthew Engel.

“But I am just awestruck by what these blokes are doing.”

All those wanting to support the TCT Laurie Engel Fund should go to www.justgiving.com/colin bateman and to support Heads Up go to: www.justgiving.com/davidtofflloyd Bateman and Lloyd started their journey on September 13 and will compete their marathon ride at Lord’s on Sunday.