Leamington crash victim, Nathan Rhodes' step sister to cycle from London to Paris

Kerry’s father Trevor married Nathan’s mother Barbara in October 2014 but she sadly barely got to know her step brother before he and his friends Emily Jennings and Ryan Case - who were all in their 20s - were killed in a car crash in June last year.

In the months before that, the 29-year-old who regularly cycles 18 miles between her home in South West London to her workplace in the North of the city, had completed the London to Brighton cycle.

But it was after Nathan’s death and experiencing the loss her step mother, father, and other family members were feeling that she decided she wanted to go further to show her support for them.

Kerry said: “It was something I had thought about doing before but I now have a good reason and a real motivation.

“I just wanted to show my support for them and to make it so other families do not have to go through the same pain they are going through.”

The cycle will take place between April 20 to 24 and Kerry will be covering between 60 and 100 miles each day.

Participants can choose any charity they want to support but she selected Brake because it not only campaigns to prevent deaths and injuries on Britain’s roads but it also provides support for the victims of crashes and accidents and their families.

Kerry said: “I’m feeling a little nervous but I’m not too concerned about the distance more about how I’ll feel when I climb off the saddle at the end of each day only to have to do it again the next.

“I won’t know anybody else who is taking part and I’m hoping I don’t get lost and end up cycling on my own at the back.

“But hopefully it will be good fun too.”

To sponsor Kerry visit https://www.justgiving.com/Kerry-Hatcher

Brake works to prevent road casualties and support families suffering the aftermath of a road crash.

Lisa Kendall, Brake’s community fundraising manager, said: “We greatly appreciate the support from Kerry and all our fundraisers.

“We wouldn’t be able to continue our life-saving work without their help. This is a significant challenge for Kerry - she’ll be cycling for four days, travelling 400 miles, to support our cause.

“Every penny raised will be put towards our work supporting families whose lives have been devastated by a road crash, and campaigning for safer roads.

“There are many cycling and running events organised across the UK and we are really keen to hear from people who would like to take part in an event as a fundraiser for Brake.”

Anyone inspired by Kerry’s story and interested in supporting Brake can call 01484 559909, email [email protected] or go to www.brake.org.uk/fundraise.

* Nathan Rhodes, of Stockton, and his three friends were killed on the Radford Road in Leamington on June 20 last year when Jamie Riddick, now 21, of Kineton, crashed the car in which they were all travelling into a tree and a wall.

Riddick, who had only a provisional driving licence, was almost twice the drink-drive limit - and the Citroen Saxo was not insured nor did it have a MoT certificate, a court heard.

He was jailed for nine years in January