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Cycling 170 miles over one weekend, three Ainscough Crane Hire employees from the Preston Depot completed the Coast to Coast challenge in aid of Cancer Research UK.
Philip Kennedy, Andy Greenhalgh and John Morgan took to their bikes from St Bees Head on the Cumbrian coast to Robin Hood’s Bay in North Yorkshire on the 24th and 25th September.
With over 40,000 regular volunteers, Cancer Research UK has raised millions of pounds since its formation in 2002, with fundraising events such as the ‘Coast to Coast’ bike ride which plays a crucial part in helping the charity fund projects.
Reflecting on his teams gruelling cycle across the country and the money raised for charity, lift supervisor, Phil Kennedy said: “We were challenged by the depot manager to undertake some fundraising as part of Ainscough’s 40th Anniversary Charity Challenge, and Cancer Research sprung to mind straight away.
To mark the company’s 40th anniversary, Ainscough has committed to match fund depot’s fundraising activities so far raising a fantastic £760.
“I’ve had a few family members that have passed away due to cancer and I think that it is a charity that is close to a lot of people’s hearts.
“The weather was horrendous on the first day, there was a real head wind when we were near the M6 coming out of the Lake District. However, the second day was very pleasant and it helped us over the line.”
“It took a lot of work out of the legs and we made it more challenging for ourselves, as we didn’t take a direct route. The lads in the cycling club organised the route and they really punished us. On the first day I thought ‘why are we doing this!’ that’s how hard it was.”
Joined on the expedition by minibus, driver John Carter along with two of his friends from the Leigh Premier Cycling Club said: “The whole cycle took close to two full days, I was the novice of the group as I have only recently started cycling, but Andy is in the club and he goes out most weekends. John has also done a fair bit of cycling too, which meant I was lagging at the back.
“I think we should make this an annual thing now, I’ll definitely push to do something similar again.”
Photo – From left to right – John Morgan, Andy Greenhalgh, Gaz Holden from (Leigh Premier Cycling Club), Phil Kennedy, Paul Fish (Leigh Premier Cycling Club).
