Epic bike ride in memory of dad

ON your bike . . . (from left) Paul Bloodworth, Brian Hurst (appeals manager at Dr Kershaw’s) and Paula-Joanne Rooney

MEMORIES of a much-loved father helped a nurse from Oldham to cycle 147 gruelling miles in three days to raise funds for Dr Kershaw’s Hospice.

Paula-Joanne Rooney (36), from Royton, raised £2,000 for the hospice after completing the Coast to Coast bike ride in May — despite having no left knee cap.

The mum-of-two, who works for NHS Oldham, decided to take up the charity challenge in memory of her father Brian John Rooney, who died from prostate cancer.

The 61-year-old, from High Crompton, had fought the disease for five years before he died at Dr Kershaw’s on March 17.

Ms Rooney said: “He was my dad, my best friend and my ultimate hero.

“He fought cancer for five years but was never down and kept his spirits high right until the last few days. He was a true gentleman.”

The challenge saw Ms Rooney and her partner Paul Bloodworth (41) cycle from Whitehaven in Cumbria to Tynemouth on the North East Coast.

A childhood accident severed Ms Rooney’s knee, leaving it without a knee cap, but it was the memory of her father’s brave battle that kept her pedalling to the finish line.

She said: “Although my doctor had said it was best not to cycle or run because of my knee, I trained on my bike before the challenge but that still didn’t prepare me for what I was going to experience.

“After the first 40 miles, I was in tears and ready to give up, but it was the memory of my father and the pain he had endured without complaining that kept me going.

“Dr Kershaw’s Hospice helped my father maintain his dignity so I’m proud to have raised the money for them.”