Two pedal-pushers from a leading Manchester-based air conditioning contractor found a cool way to raise £2,000 for charity.
Steve Valentine and Scott Lightfoot from Coolair Equipment Ltd in Dukinfield raised the money for the British Heart Foundation by cycling 56 miles from Manchester to Blackpool through the night in freezing weather.
Regional Director Steve, 46, took on the fundraising challenge in memory of his Dad, John, who died suddenly from a heart attack this year at the age of only 68. His fundraising appeal inspired Sales & Design Engineer Scott, 45, who had undergone heart surgery, to join him.
Having completed the gruelling 400-mile Agra to Jaipur Cycle Challenge in 2014 for Save the Children, Steve found his latest ride equally demanding.
Steve said: “The midnight start, hill climbs and freezing conditions, with the thermometer dropping to minus one degree centigrade, made this just as tough as my cycle ride across India. At the finish I was freezing cold and very tired but thrilled at having completed my first-ever cycle ride through the night.
“When I started training for the Manchester to Blackpool challenge, I set myself a target of raising £600 and increasing awareness of heart disease amongst friends, families and customers. I was delighted that we raised so much money, which will be split between the British Heart Foundation and a local BHF store.”
Steve, who lives in Rossendale, and Scott, from Stockport, set off from Old Trafford Cricket Ground and, after almost five hours of putting their endurance levels to the test, arrived together at the finish line on Blackpool Promenade.
Coolair Equipment Ltd, which has offices in Manchester, Cannock and Kent, was founded in 1980 and specialises in providing tailored cooling and heating services to the retail, residential, commercial, education and hotel sectors.
