OLYMPIC snowboarding hero Jenny Jones will be one of hundreds of cyclists to tackle the terrains of Test Valley this weekend to raise money for a male suicide prevention charity.

The 2014 Sochi star will take part in Nelson’s Tour de Test Valley tomorrow to honour late friend and former coach Nelson Pratt, who took his own life in 2012.

The former Grately resident, known as ‘Nelly’, was known as one of the UK’s most talented snowboarders at the time of his death, aged 33.

According to bronze medalist Jones, he was also crucial to her becoming the first Briton to win an Olympic medal in a snow event, at the 2014 Sochi winter games.

Following Nelson’s death, brother Chris Pratt and friend Marcus Chapman decided to organise an annual cycling event to honour their late loved one and raise money and awareness of male suicide.

The pair joined forces with charity Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM), which aims to reduce male suicide rates amongst young men.

Thousands of cyclists have taken part in the yearly event since 2012, raising nearly £150,000 in the process.

This year will be the fourth annual event and Mr Chapman, 37, is anticipating they could attract over 1,000 cyclists to take part.

He told the Advertiser: “We have had over 850 entries so far but between now and the event I think we will get really close to 1,000.

“It’s a great event and has a really friendly feel to it from start to finish.

“Obviously we want as many people to get involved as possible from people who knew Marcus to keen cyclists and those who support the cause.

“In part it’s about keeping his legacy going but it is also about helping to deal with a problem as well.

“Suicide is still the biggest killer amongst young men by a long way so it is important that we talk about it.”

The event, which starts and ends at Nelson’s parent’s farm in Grately, is split into three distances of 40km, 80km 160km.

Cyclists will be treated to a free meal at the end of event, while local bike shop Abbotts Ann Cycles will provide mechanical assistance throughout the day.

For more details or to enter, visit: nelsonstourdetestvalley.co.uk.

For more information on calm visit: www.thecalmzone.net.