WHEN Simon Collins decided to raise money for the British Heart Foundation in memory of his friend Steve Kaluza, an Oxford to Cambridge cycle ride seemed the ideal opportunity.

But the police officer from Witney and two cycling pals decided the 90-mile journey was not challenging enough and have instead decided to take on a 200-mile round trip.

Today they will leave Witney for Cambridge at 5.30am for a marathon 17-hour adventure which will see them arrive back in Oxfordshire late tonight.

Mr Collins said he and fellow cyclists Derek MacKenzie and Matt Nield were determined to raise £500 in memory of Mr Kaluza, who passed away at the age of 51 in February 2013.

The dad-of-three, who worked for Siemens in Eynsham, died suddenly from a heart attack.

Mr Collins, also a father-of-three, said: “I have only been cycling for a year but I have always said to Steve’s wife Nicky that I wanted to do something in memory of Steve for the British Heart Foundation.

“I have been cycling with Derek and Matt at Mickey Cranks cycling club in Witney and we have done a couple of 100-mile rides.

“I saw the British Heart Foundation Oxford to Cambridge ride and thought it was my chance to go out and raise some money.

“But it is a bit more challenging doing the return as well.

“We are aiming for 14 hours in the saddle with a total of three hours of breaks. I am confident we will reach our £500 target.”

The trio can count on the support of Mrs Kaluza, who will be remembering her husband’s life with friends today, a day after he would have turned 54.

The 48-year-old housing advisor from Carterton said: “Steve was a bit of a character, he would always tell people that he was no angel. He was moving a load of soil for building a patio when he had a heart attack.

“When he died a few of my friends and family started running for the British Heart Foundation and did a few 10ks and half-marathons. The cycle to Cambridge and back fits perfectly because it is the day after his birthday.”

Both Mr Collins and Mrs Kaluza said the event was not just a good opportunity to raise money for Mr Kaluza but to prevent other people dying from heart attacks.

Mrs Kaluza said: “I would like to think our kids will benefit from research that is going on now. Hopefully some day once you get to your 40s you can go to a GP and he or she can tell you if you have underlying problems. People think a person having a heart attack will be older and overweight but that is not the case.”

To donate visit justgiving.com/SteveKaluza