A FAMOUS face will be joining hundreds of fundraisers cycling 75km through villages in Bromsgrove, to help raise vital funds for Birmingham’s St Mary’s Hospice.

Former West Bromwich Albion player Brendon Batson has signed up for the charity’s annual cycling challenge ‘Ride the Reservoir’, which takes places on Sunday, March 18.

The sportive starts at Bartley Green and heads through Bromsgrove villages Romsley, Belbroughton, Barnt Green, as well as Chaddesley Corbett, and back to the reservoir.

Baggies star Brendon, who is showing his support for the hospice after they cared for his wife Cecily in 2009, said: “The care Cecily and my family received was just incredible.

“It was a massive comfort that she was cared for at home and I’ll never forget the kindness and dignity the nurses and doctors showed us.

“Taking on Ride the Reservoir is my way of continuing to say thank you to the Hospice for their amazing support during that time.

“As a keen cyclist, I’m looking forward to getting back on my bike again and kickstarting the season with this brilliant ride.”

Brendon, who played for the Black Country club from 1978 to 1982, will be one of hundreds of fundraisers at the event, which raise more than £16,000 for the hospice last year.

Lucy Watkins, events manager at Birmingham St Mary’s, said: “It’s fantastic to have Brendon on board for Ride the Reservoir this year.

“Whilst the route may look pretty, it’s actually really challenging with plenty of ups and downs along the way.

“It will cost £8 million to run our hospice this year, so funds raised from this event will be absolutely vital in ensuring that we can continue to provide our care to even more local families living with terminal illness.”

Registration for the ride costs £20 from birminghamhospice.org.uk/Event/rtr2018.