AMBULANCE staff are embarking on a cycle challenge to support a family hit by tragedy.

Kevin Davies and Kelvin Bollard, of the Welsh Ambulance Service, will raise money for three-year-old Emmy Taylor, grand-daughter of Flint paramedic Denise Taylor.

Emmy was badly burned in a caravan fire which claimed the lives of her uncle Andrew and grandfather Robert, both of Flint. She remains at Alder Hey children’s hospital in Liverpool as she recovers after the fire, which happened at Sunny Sands Caravan Park in Talybon in June, and could return home next month.

Kevin and Kelvin start from John O’Groats on Monday and will cycle down to Denbigh to meet colleagues at their workplace eight days later.

The ride follows the successful completion of a first leg, from Land’s End to Denbigh, earlier in the year.

Kevin said: “We were on the first bike ride when we heard about this awful incident.

“We looked at the second route and both thought we wanted to do it to raise money for Emmy.

“I played summer league football with Emmy’s dad Ian. My wife, who works in fire control, took the actual call regarding the incident. Kelvin started the same day as Denise in the ambulance service and they did their basic training together.”

A fundraising event has been held at the Royal Oak in Flint, while members of the Royal British Legion in the town hosted a snooker event with Bagillt-born star Ricky Walden.

Firefighter Tony Reaney, based at Flint, is running the Great North Run half marathon to raise cash for the youngster.

Emmy’s parents Ian Taylor and Laura Lidfiord have already thanked those who have been helping to raise funds for their daughter.

Anybody who would like to sponsor Kelvin and Kevin, should make out a cheque to Emmy Taylor and send it to Denbigh Ambulance Station.