You can get a perfectly relaible and light ish front suspension bike for around £300 that will be durable and pleasant to ride for a novice/intermediate rider. You dont want full suss for a charity road ride.
thats why i asked does he need one
dont think its too many experts its too many opinions
just like some people swear by fwd and others rwd and then the idiots swear by 4x4
its down to personal preference
i personally knownthat any suspention bike is gonna be pointless on a charity bike ride, same as of road tyres are too
but i also dont use suspention off road, just cause i perfer the feel without and ive used a fair few too
supose we have confused him enough, in a nut shell take matt1600i's advice as he has just said what i was gonna say anyway, avoid full sus for 300 quid !!!!