Riders take on 127-mile canal challenge

Date published: 18 July 2014


AN ambitious uncle is putting wheels in motion to help a cause which has touched his family’s heart.

Geoff Stocks and a group of colleagues from James Briggs Ltd, in Salmon Fields, Royton, are cycling the entire 127 miles of the Leeds-Liverpool canal tomorrow in aid of premature baby charity Bliss.

The charity — which helps families with children born too soon, too small, too sick — provided invaluable help and support when Geoff’s nephew, Thomas, was born nine weeks prematurely and the whole family has been fundraising out of gratitude ever since.

The epic ride is even more of a feat for the father-of-four as he only started biking seriously three months ago when an injury prevented him from running.

He mentioned the idea to a colleague about attempting the canalside ride and days later they were saddling up for the event.

“I talked about doing it next year but my colleague said never mind next year let’s do it next month, so here we are,” explained a slightly nervous Geoff (44), who lives in Leeds.

To sponsor the riders or just donate to their cause visit justgiving/Jbl-cycle challenge.
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