THE mother of an athlete who lost her life last year has praised efforts by the Cotswold School to fundraise for her.

The school in Bourton-on-the-Water is holding the first ever Sharon Laws Sportive in association with British Cycling.

In late 2016, Ms Laws, a professional cyclist was a professional racer for almost a decade, helping Nicole Cooke to Olympic gold in 2008.

She was diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2016 and died in December 2017.

The Cotswold School recently welcomed Joy Laws, her mother for a heartfelt pre-event photo shoot.

She said: "This disease can be eradicated. If we can fundraise for further research and increase the vaccination programme, we can eradicate cervical cancer.”

The event will take place on Saturday July 7, Sharon Laws date of birth.

The main cycle event is a 43-mile route, one mile for every year of her life.

The Cotswold School is raising funds a new sports, events and wellbeing hub that can be used by the school and the community to improve the facilities on offer.

Sharon and Joy’s chosen charity, Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust will also have money raised for them.

The trust has created a video especially for this event at https://cotswold.gloucs.sch.uk/sharonlawssportive/

Ms Laws will unveil a plaque in a fitting tribute to daughter at 10am in the lobby of Everyone Active in Bourton-on-the-Water.

She will then open the shorter family cycle route at 10.30 am at The Cotswold School.

The shorter loop for children and families of 14.3 miles is £5 per person, the 43 mile Sharon Laws tribute route is £20 per person and the longer challenge route is 76 miles at £30 per person.

The route will leave from The Cotswold School. Visit https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/events/details/173195/Sharon-Laws-Sportive for more information