Battling Poverty

A charity worker is looking for cyclists to join him on a bike ride to Blackpool - and help rebuild lives in Bosnia. The EETEP Aid organisation is appealing for folk to cycle the 56 miles from Manchester to Blackpool or sponsor their existing riders, as part of the annual charity cycling marathon. Phill Booth set up EETEP (English Effort To End Poverty) last year to help people in Bosnia-Herzegovina in the former Yugoslavia, which was devastated by war ten years ago. Phill, 35, of Chapel Street, Glossop said: “We have 13 people riding for us, including myself, but the more the merrier. This ride is our main fundraiser for the year so if we get a good amount, it carries us through for a few months.”

On his bike (above, right). Phill Booth is hoping people will join him on the Manchester to Blackpool bike ride in July to raise money for his charity English Effort to End Poverty which helps people in Bosnia. “Last year's ride was hard - I had not got time for any training and had only come back from Bosnia the day before!”

Phill, a former builder but now a 'house husband', often uses his skills to help Bosnians rebuild their lives. Once he helped insulate a house with polystyrene and was wielding his trowel one hour before leaving home.

Anybody who wants to sponsor Phill or cycle to Blackpool on Sunday, 16 July, can contact his wife Tracey on 0789 6972775, as Phill will be in Bosnia until June 1.