Shropshire Star

Presenter Zoe Ball riding through Shropshire in memory of her partner

Presenter Zoe Ball will be coming to Shropshire as part of a gruelling 350-mile charity cycle ride in memory of her boyfriend who took his own life.

Published

The former Live & Kicking presenter will stop off in Upton Magna, near Shrewsbury, as part of her Hardest Ride Home challenge, which will take her from her birthplace in Blackpool to her home in Bournemouth.

She will set off on March 5 and is aiming to tackle around 70 miles each day.

Zoe is expected to reach Shropshire on day two of her five-day ride, when she'll be travelling from Widnes, near Liverpool, to Stafford.

The 47-year-old will take part in the Sport Relief Challenge to raise awareness of mental health issues after her boyfriend Billy Yates hanged himself.

She said: “I lost someone very dear to me who really struggled with depression.

“It was really important that I did something. Thinking of the reason I signed up for this challenging adventure will spur me on.

“Knowing that every penny we raise will make such a difference to so many different people’s lives is a great feeling.

“I hope that my endeavours inspire others to do something that moves them for Sport Relief, too.”

Ahead of her challenge she visited The Tomorrow Project in Nottingham, which supports individuals and communities to prevent suicide.