Bobbies on their bikes for charity

CYCLING support . . . Bobbies preparing to get on their bike are PC John Mara, PC Geoff Owen, Sgt Paul Robinson, with his son Sam and daughter Sophie, and PC Stephen Dargan. Also pictured lending their support are Sue Mara (left) and Gillian Davies (right)

FOUR Oldham bobbies are getting on their bikes for a gruelling winter charity ride across the country.

The policemen will pull on their lycra and strap on safety helmets to take part in a cycle challenge from the west to east coasts of England.

Their intrepid efforts — to raise vital funds for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust — were inspired by one of the officers’ sons.

Eleven-year-old Sam Robinson has cystic fibrosis, which is caused by a defective gene that results in the internal organs, especially the lungs and digestive system, becoming clogged with thick sticky mucus making it extremely difficult to breathe and digest food.

His dad, Sgt Paul Robinson, and colleagues from the custody office at Oldham Police Station — PC Geoff Owen, PC John Mara and PC Stephen Dargan — are eager to help the charity.

They will cycle more than 140 miles from Blackpool to Bridlington on November 24, taking it in turns to cover at least 35 miles each.

Sgt Robinson said: “When I first told my wife we were doing this for Sam she couldn’t stop laughing as I haven’t been on a bike for years!

“But I think she’s quite impressed that we are all taking it really seriously and have already been out on a few training sessions.

“We hope to have lots of fun while raising vital funds at the same time. Sam is doing well and he’s just started high school.”

Cystic fibrosis is the UK’s most common life-threatening inherited disease.

Average life expectancy is only 31, although improvements in treatments mean a baby born today is expected to live longer.

The cyclists are hoping to attract sponsors and are also looking for a company which may wish to support them by donating the use of a van or small motorhome for them to use as their support vehicle.

Anyone who wants to sponsor them can do so by logging on to the website www.justgiving.com/geoffreyowen, or if you can help with a vehicle, contact Natalie Paintin, at the Cystic Fibrosis Trust, on 0845-859 1064.