Stylists want you to go that extra mile for sick children

Diane Johnson gets on her bike with staff and customers at Shampers, Lord Lane, Failsworth for charity

ON yer bike . . . staff and customers at a Failsworth hairdressers will go the extra 100 miles for charity — without setting foot out of the salon.

Energetic employees at Shampers in Lord Lane are gearing up for a charity cycle ride - on a stationary exercise bike — to raise money for MedEquip4Kids which funds equipment for children’s wards and neo-natal units at hospitals across the North-West.

The ‘route’ devised for the challenge will travel to hospitals the charity works closely with, including the Royal Oldham Hospital, Macclesfield General Hospital, Warrington Hospital, Fairfield General Hospital in Bury and Rochdale Infirmary.

The challenge starts on Saturday, April 18, and Shampers is appealing for members of the public to come along during the day and cycle as much or as little of the route as they want to help raise funds for the maternity unit at the Royal Oldham Hospital.

MedEquip4Kids wants to raise £2,800 to provide a biliblanket for the unit to help babies born with jaundice. Fibre optic pads in the blanket deliver microwatts of therapeutic light to treat the condition, even while the baby is being cuddled or fed by its mother, doing away with the need for an incubator.

Rachel Allen, community fundraiser for MedEquip4Kids, said: “The staff at Shampers are fantastic and really excited about the challenge. They’re hoping to raise as much money as possible so we need lots of people coming to help cycle and donate.”

For more information on MedEquip4Kids, visit www.medequip4kids.org.uk.