Darren's 600-mile cycle ride in memory of murdered friend

Sarah Groves, from Guernsey, was stabbed more than 40 times in a frenzied attack on a houseboat in India in 2013.

Now Darren Lewin (pictured), who knew the 24-year-old, has vowed to raise more than £2,000 for the charity set up in her memory.

Darren, 29, said: “Between 2000 and 2003 I lived in Guernsey and made a lot of friends there. I knew Sarah and I spoke with her when I went to visit the gym where she worked.

“She was a really friendly person and she did a lot of charity work herself so I wanted to raise money for the causes that were close to her heart.”

Postman Darren, who lives in Layton, will cycle more than 600 miles from Saint-Malo in the north of France to Bilbao in Spain to raise money for the Sarah Groves Foundation, which helps to support poverty-stricken people all around the world.

This will be the second time he has raised money in memory of Sarah, as he ran 26 miles for the foundation in the Chicago Marathon in America in 2014.

He said: “I was shocked when I heard what had happened. I knew some of her close friends who were really upset, and I felt sad for her family.

“I know her parents are going through the courts in India trying to find out what happened but I don’t think they’re getting much support from the British government.

“I wanted to show my support for them in this difficult time.

“I cycle around at work but I’m more of a runner really. I’ve done marathons but never a cycling event.

“I’m going to get the miles stacked up in the next couple of months when the weather gets warmer.

“I’m quite a keen fundraiser. I need to raise at least £2,000 but I want to raise as much money as possible to make a difference to the charities that meant a lot to Sarah.”

People can donate to Darren’s charity bike ride at www.justgiving.com/darren-lewin3