A TEAM of cardiologists successfully completed Sunday's White Rose Classic in memory of their late colleague Dr George Ballard - but it wasn't without a hitch.

Team member Helen Michael, consultant paediatric cardiologist at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, had to tackle the cycling challenge while suffering from tonsillitis.

"I felt rotten and had a sore throat and got slower and slower," she said. "But that just gave me an empty road and lots of thinking space. I thought of George as I surveyed his hills in the sunshine - idyllic, perfect British summer.

"To add to my troubles, the bike had played up, the chain kept snagging and jumping off and I needed the rear mechanism and chain tweaking by a helper en route which had lost me 40 mins in Grassington.

"But I wouldn’t have wanted to be anywhere else. George would have loved that ride: he’d have been proud of us all that day."

Dr Ballard, who lived in Ilkley and was a keen cyclist, was incredibly popular with colleagues and patients, and the Leeds Congenital Heart unit where he worked was flooded with messages following his tragic death in a cycling accident in the Yorkshire Dales at Dibbles Bridge. It prompted his colleagues to take part Sunday's event in his memory and raise money for the Children’s Heart Surgery Fund (CHSF) – the award-winning charity supporting the Leeds Congenital Heart Unit at Leeds General Infirmary. All profits from the event, which is run by Ilkley Cycling Club will also go to the same charity in George's memory as it was his favourite charity.

It started and finished at Ilkley Rugby Club, with participants choosing to cycle 50, 84 or 114 miles, and also included a family fun day with food, facepainting, stalls and a tombola.

Fellow cardiologist Fiona Willcoxson added: "We all thought and talked of George a lot - passing Dibbles Bridge was very emotional.

"Seeing our friends, colleagues and CHSF at the end was amazing. Really proud of us all.”

Early estimates suggest the fund have taken well over £6,000 from the family fun day, cyclists fundraising for CHSF and other donations.

Children's Heart Surgery Fund CEO Sharon Coyle said: "We're really pleased to have partnered with such a well-organised and prestigious event to help raise valuable funds.

We'd like to thank all the volunteers, stall holders, fundraisers and contributors who helped us out make the family fun day a success.

"I completed the 50-mile route and was struck by the friendliness and encouragement of other riders, not to mention the event organisers and local well-wishers."

You can visit http://www.virginmoneygiving.com/HelenMichael to give directly to the LGI team's fund.