A GROUP of friends have spoken of their tough year after losing two of their close-knit group, who both died aged 43 within months of each other.

Paul Beards and Stephen ‘Benny’ Benn were best friends and worked at the Department for Work and Pensions building in Leeds Road, Bradford.

Mr Beards died of heart failure in October last year, while Mr Benn died after suffering a heart attack last month.

Mr Beards was a Bradford City fan and was at Valley Parade on the day of the fire disaster. on May 11, 1985, which cost 56 lives and left about 265 injured.

Now 11 of their friends are preparing to cycle 130 miles from Liverpool to Leeds along the towpath of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, between September 6 and 8.They will be raising funds for the Bradford Burns Unit in their friends' memory.

Tim Edmondson, 36, of Idle, who was friends with both men and will take part in the ride, said: “It has been a bad year for us. I knew them both for 15 years, I used to work with them. They were the best of friends.

“Benny was supposed to be doing the ride with us. We first mentioned it at Paul’s wake.

“It is going to be emotional to do the bike ride and thinking about them.

“Some of the people on the cycling ride also worked with them. We played a lot of golf and poker with them. We went on holiday together.

“We are talking about doing something every year to raise funds. We might do a golf day next year and a poker event.”

Mr Edmondson’s wife Jackie, who knew both Mr Beards and Mr Benn, will be the group’s support driver.

The fundraisers will hand over a cheque to representatives from the University of Bradford’s Plastic Surgery and Burns Research Unit (PSBRU), which was set up after the fire disaster, on the pitch at half-time at City’s clash with Charlton Athletic at Valley Parade on October 21.

Ajay Mahajan, consultant plastic surgeon and director of research at PSBRU, said: “It is a sad situation with the two friends losing their lives but it is good of the group to think of us. We are very grateful to them.

“It is great that these types of activities are continuing to raise funds for the unit.”

A total of £350,000 has been raised for the burns unit since it was founded.

To sponsor the friends’ ride, go to http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/displaySomeoneSpecialPage.action?pageUrl=DoktorBeards.