THE fundraising efforts of two cyclists who lost their lives on a round-the-world tour will go on in their memory.
Karen Puddifoot, 27, from Northwood, and Tim Roney, 21, from Rickmansworth, both drowned when the boat they were on sank in the South China Sea, off the coast of Vietnam, after a sudden storm in September.
Just three months earlier the pair had cycled across Europe and Scandinavia with Karen's brother, Chris, to raise money for the British Lung Foundation. Chris, 22, was himself killed on November 10 in a road accident in Hampermill Lane, Watford.
In last week's Gazette, the Puddifoot family said they were 'numb and at a loss for words' after losing Karen and Chris.
Now Alan Smith, the owner of Cyclopedia bicycle shop in Watford, where Tim worked for almost four years, has set up a raffle to continue raising money for the charity.
Mr Smith, 60, said: "Before the terrible and tragic events that took place, Karen and Tim had already cycled more than 3,500 miles across Europe without a hiccup.
"They were championing the British Lung Foundation because a friend, James Harrison, who also lived in Northwood, died of a lung-related condition in early 2008.
"Tim and Karen were inspirational young people with such a sense of adventure, who were determined to do something positive with their lives. No one could fail to be moved by their deaths, and to lose Chris so suddenly is incomprehensible.
"They had been due to travel around New Zealand and I was hoping to join them in Auckland. I still hope to go out there and continue raising money for the British Lung Foundation.
"So far, we have sold 1,500 raffle tickets. We want to raise awareness of the charity because it doesn't receive as much publicity as those connected to cancer and heart disease."
Prizes include a bicycle, £100 of John Lewis vouchers and a homemade Christmas cake. Tickets cost £1 and can be bought in the shop. The draw is on December 21 at 11am.
Donations can be made at www.justgiving.com/timroney
