IT WAS a day to celebrate the life of a much-loved father-of-three and dedicated firefighter.

And the cycle ride in memory of Jason Gouldby was also a chance for his friends and family to thank staff at St Elizabeth Hospice where he lost his battle against brain cancer this month.

Today, his widow Rachel thanked everyone who took part in the Race for Jase, which has so far raised more than �16,000 – with donations still pouring in.

Mrs Gouldby said she hoped to make the charity challenge an annual occasion.

The event – part of a celebration of the life of Felixstowe Port firefighter Jason Gouldby – saw more than 125 cyclists set off on a challenge through the Suffolk countryside on rides up to 50 miles.

Mr Gouldby, 43, who lived with his wife Rachel, and three young children, Eve, Isaak and Oren, in Old Felixstowe, was first diagnosed with brain cancer in 2009. After a courageous fight against the disease, Mr Gouldby died on September 4 at St Elizabeth Hospice, Ipswich, where he had been for five weeks.

Mrs Gouldby said: “The day went really, really, well. There was a great turn out of people and we had so much support from our family and friends.

“I have heard that the hospice has said it is the quickest anyone has raised that amount of money in a short space of time.

“We still have a lot of donations coming in and the money from the raffle, which is about �2,000.

“We think we will reach �20,000 which is incredible considering we only set out to raise �2,000 at the beginning.”

n To donate to the cause visit www.raceforjase.co.uk