STAFF and patients at a Marie Curie hospice welcomed Great Britain’s most decorated Paralympian, Dame Sarah Storey, as the cyclist promoted the Marie Curie Cancer Care Etape Mercia – a new cycling event to be held in Cheshire on August 18.

The Marie Cure Cancer Care Etape Series is run by IMG Challenger World, part of IMG World, the global sport, fashion and media company.

Sarah was in the area to launch the entry level sportive – which offers cyclists of all abilities the chance to take part in a 69-mile mass participation event in the West Cheshire countryside – and was keen to see first hand the amazing patient care provided at the Liverpool-based hospice.

Hospice manager Diane Barker introduced nurses and patients to Sarah, who chatted about the Olympics and the new event.

Ms Barker said: “It was wonderful to introduce Sarah to everyone at the hospice and show her the vital services we provide to people living with a terminal illness and their families.”

As ambassador for the event, Sarah is urging existing and new cyclists to sign up and take advantage of free places available to people willing to raise money for Marie Curie Cancer Care.

“By taking part in the event and raising money for the charity, we can help the charity continue to provide that support, while increasing awareness of its work,” she said.

Participants can enter now at www.etapemercia.co.uk. There are 400 free places available to those willing to raise £250 for Marie Curie Cancer Care. General entry is £63.

More than 3,500 cyclists will be able to compete in the Etape Mercia, which starts and finishes at Oulton Race Track in Little Budworth and takes in some of the county’s best-known sites, such as Beeston Castle, Little Switzerland, Delamere Forest, Shropshire Union Canal and the Cheshire Ridge.