TWO good causes that will help struggling families and elderly people survive this winter will be boosted when cyclists take part in a spinathon in Devizes.

Route2Fitness gym owner Nick Holmes is organising the 12-hour event on November 16 to raise money for the Wiltshire Community Foundation’s Surviving Winter appeal and Devizes and District Foodbank.

Mr Holmes, 29, who took over the gym on the Hopton Industrial Estate with his wife Mel last year, said: “I think they are both great causes and I really wanted to do something to thank the community for all the support we’ve had.

“You don’t think of people struggling to heat their homes or feed their families in a place like Wiltshire but it is a real issue and we are really happy to be helping both charities.”

He is looking for companies and teams to enter the event, which runs from 7am to 7pm at the gym. “It’ll be a test of endurance, we’ll be entering our own team and we want to win,” he added.

Entry costs £300 per bike with teams allowed to have as many members as they wish. The teams will be measured on how many kilowatts they produce over the 12-hour period, with the winner taking home a trophy being donated by Avon Trophies in Devizes. Water and refreshments will be provided throughout the day.

Surviving Winter works in partnership with Age UK Wiltshire and Warm and Safe Wiltshire to provide grants of £300 to the most vulnerable people.

Wiltshire Community Foundation chief executive Rosemary Macdonald said: “According to research there are 19,540 households in Wiltshire living in fuel poverty, which means they cannot afford to heat their home properly through the coldest months of the year.” That is almost one in ten homes in our county.”

Last year Devizes and District Foodbank handed out 26 tonnes of food to vulnerable families. Trustee Richard Oliver said: “Support like this is fundamental to what we are trying to do. We get a lot of very generous donations of food but financial contributions are really important too.” To take part email admin@route2fitness.co.uk.