Friends of Geoff Dudley, the father of Kristy Thomson and poppy to Patiya May, will hold a fundraiser next month for the Kristy Thomson Appeal.

A bike ride will leave the Allies Hotel at 10am on February 16 and return to the pub about 1pm, and be followed by an afternoon of food and music.

Lar Eiffe said organisers wanted to be able to help during a time when they felt helpless.

"We want to help Kristy get through this,'' she said.

"She is going to have a long, long road ahead and we can help make it easier then that is what we will do.

"People can't give enough and those that can't give have offered to help on the day.''

Entry to the ride is $10 per person and entry to the afternoon is $10 per head. Children aged under 15 years may enter via gold coin donation.

Market fundraiser

Meanwhile, the Salvation Army will donate all proceeds from the Gravel Hill market on January 11 to the Kristy Thomson Appeal.

Salvos volunteer Gus Higginbottom said the market was set up to raise funds for the Friday night youth program, but wanted to give something back to the community.

"The community supports us so I think it’s right we support the community back,'' Mr Higginbottom said.

"What happened is tragic – so this is about the community coming together to support people through it.

"We hope to raise as much money as we can to help the family out.

"We’ve only just started the market so we’re not fully set up yet, but we feel we need to not worry about our own for the next market and donate the money to the family.

"Our kids are involved in the market and it’s good for them to see us doing something for someone else, as well.''

The market will include trash and treasure, a barbecue and various other stalls.

Stallholders are invited to join the event.

The regular Gravel Hill markets will then continue on the third Saturday of each month.