Steve’s two towers challenge
A LOCAL man will be taking on a wheelie big challenge this summer – cycling from Blackpool Tower to the Eiffel Tower in just three days.
Steve Monks, from Birch Vale, will be taking on the epic challenge of cycling 180 miles a day, in aid of St Ann’s Hospice, a local charity where his wife Nicky works.
He explained: “I know that, without question or hesitation, the staff and volunteers at St Ann’s really do go the extra mile for their patients, so I wanted to go a mile - or 540 to be exact - for them too!
“I’m doing it because St Ann’s Hospice do it – not just over three long and hard days, but on every single long and hard day.
“I love cycling and will be riding the whole way, apart from the English Channel as I’m rubbish at swimming!”
Steve’s wife Nicky has worked as a ward manager at the hospice’s Heald Green site for 16 years. The pair often go cycling together in the countryside around their home.
All money raised from the challenge will go to St Ann’s.
The hospice provides care and support to local people from across Greater Manchester from its three sites in Heald Green, Little Hulton and the Neil Cliffe Centre at Wythenshawe Hospital, as well as via a range of community and outreach services.
Eamonn O’Neal, chief executive of St Ann’s, said: “This is an amazing effort on behalf of the hospice and we can’t thank Steve enough. It’s such a huge challenge and we can’t underestimate the amount of time and training that is needed to take on something of this scale.
“We really do appreciate his support and wish him all the very best for August.”
*To make a donation in support of Steve’s challenge, please visit, www.justgiving.com/ fundraising/ twin towers 540 miles.