A GROUP of cyclists will travel from one Bridge of Sighs to another as they celebrate the centenary of the Oxford landmark by raising money to support students from poor backgrounds.

Seventy cyclists will leave Hertford College at 7.30am on Saturday and head to Portsmouth, with 30 travelling on with the aim of reaching Venice, home of the original bridge, by Sunday, July 29.

The bridge in the Italian city was so-called as criminals saw their last view of Venice from it before prison. The Hertford Bridge was named after it due to its architectural similarities.

The money raised will be used to pay for undergraduate bursaries, funds for financial hardship, scholarships and outreach work.

Nicholas Patni, 19, a first-year medical student at Hertford, is one of those taking part.

He said: “Hertford has a strong tradition in admitting students from less privileged backgrounds and the atmosphere of the college is better because of it. I wanted to play my part in keeping that tradition going.”

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