Paul Merson took part in the British Heart Foundation’s London to Brighton bike ride recently in memory of his friend, Ugo Ehiogu.

• Ehiogu died in April from a cardiac arrest while coaching Tottenham’s u23s – he was just 44
• Merson took part in bike ride hoping to raise at least £4,000 for lifesaving heart surgery
• 54-mile bike ride from Clapham Common to Brighton seafront has taken place for 42 years
• Event hopes to raise £2.5m after 14,700 took part

Merson took part in the iconic 54-mile bike ride from Clapham Common to Brighton seafront to help raise money for lifesaving heart surgery after his friend and former teammate, Ehiogu, passed away in April of this year.

Ehiogu tragically collapsed from cardiac arrest while coaching Tottenham’s u23s. He was just 44, and Merson was visibly devastated on Sky Sports following the news.

The ex-player hopes to raise over £4,000, while the bike ride in total is expected to exceed £2.5m after 14,700 cyclists took part this year.

Head of events at the British Heart Foundation, Shonali Rodrigues, said, “Heart disease is heartless. It devastates the lives of millions of people across the UK, which is why we’re incredibly grateful to Paul, and all our riders, for taking on our London to Brighton Bike Ride and supporting our vital research.

“We cannot thank our riders enough for their incredible support and sheer determination to make it across the finish line.”

The survival rate for cardiac arrests is less than one in 10.

Good on Mers’ for actively trying to help and gain something positive from this terrible situation.