A Raleigh round for Dr Kershaw’s

A SADDLEWORTH man who led a team of 41 cyclists on a coast-to-coast charity challenge has helped raise more than £22,000 for Dr Kershaw’s Hospice.

Warren Flaherty (38), from Dobcross, helped organise a gruelling three-day ride from Whitehaven, on the Cumbrian coastline, through the Lake District and ending at Tynemouth, on the North-East coast.

The father-of-two devised the fund-raiser following the death of his father Paul Flaherty, who was diagnosed with prostate cancer three years ago.

Paul spent five weeks at the hospice before he died at home in February, aged 63.

Warren said it was down to the care he received at the hospice that his father was able to achieve his dream — walking daughter Laura, Warren’s sister, down the aisle on her wedding day last December.

Mr Flaherty, an operations manager for an internet security firm, was joined by 41 riders and two support staff during the 147-mile ride.

He said: “It was quite tough-going, especially the second day where we cycled 65 miles up what seemed to be a large hill.

“Most of the group aren’t cyclists and some only had six weeks to prepare, so there were some broken men at the end.”

The group raised £20,000 through sponsorship which was boosted by another £2,600 during a celebration evening on June 19 at the Tara Leisure Centre, Shaw, for all the riders.

The event proved so successful, group members have already started planning next year’s fund-raiser.

He said: “The main motivation behind the ride was the passing of my father, so I’m proud that we were able to raise such a large amount.

“It would be a shame not to do a charity event again and I like the idea of keeping the coast-to-coast idea but this time we fancy something a bit different, maybe swimming or climbing a mountain.”