Pedal pals raise a packet for charity
STAFF and clients at Halton Borough Council day services completed a 100-mile cycling challenge in memory of a former colleague and her grandson.
The feat took place at Kingsway Leisure Centre in Widnes and raised more than £1,000 for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust.
Their efforts commemorated the recent loss of colleague Cath Mackrell and her grandson Luke, a Runcorn Linnets player who died aged 18 years old in March
A Halton Council spokeswoman said Cath did lots of fundraising for cystic fibrosis as one of ● her grandsons, Billy, 10, of Frodsham, who joined in with the cycling challenge has the condition.
Cath worked for Halton Community Services as admin and clerical sup- port after working at Dorset Gardens in Runcorn in the same role.
She passed away in March, a week after Luke’s death.
Council staff members are doing a series of fundraisers in memory and celebration of Cath and these include the creation of a tranquil space in the office courtyard at Halton Day Services Bredon site in Palacefields.
The council spokeswoman said Cath loved the area and looked for- ward to reading outdoors on her lunch break during good weather.
Supporters took to two stationary exercise bikes at Kingsway Leisure Centre and between them the 24 participants covered 100 miles.
Among them were service users with learning disabilities, friends of Cath’s and her grandson Billy and Halton Council press officer Mark Allen who also has cystic fibro- sis. Banter and support form passers-by kept morale high.
A video showing highlights from the feat has been uploaded to Youtube.
Alison Waller, Halton Day Services manager, said: “She is greatly missed, and the fundraising is way to celebrate Cath’s life and show how much she was loved by her colleagues and the people that knew her.”
Cllr Marie Wright (health and wellbeing) said: “It is a measure of how well loved and respected Cath was that her former colleagues are doing this for her.”
To donate for the cause, all proceeds to Cystic Fibrosis Trust, visit www. virginmonry giving.com and search for Halton Day Services. So far the challenge has raised £705 online and £325 in donations and sponsorship.