A globe-trotting Glossop charity crusader has swapped the Balkans for Blackpool to put his pedal to the mettle for a vital cause. Big-hearted Phill Booth joined an army of volunteers on two wheels to take on the gruelling Manchester to Blackpool ride to raise all-important funds for poverty-stricken Bosnia. Phill and his valiant volunteers were riding for his English Effort to End Poverty (EETEP) charity to help bring much needed funds to support more campaigns.
Riding High (right): Anthony Burgess and Glossop's youngest volunteer Thomas Healey get ready for the bike ride.
The 15 riders raised a superb £3,374 on a sun-baked Sunday to give the charity a timely boost, with further initiatives in Bosnia and a fresh effort in Uganda now underway. Phil told the Chronicle: “EETEP Manchester to Blackpool cycle ride was a huge success, we had 15 riders including myself who between us have raised £3,374 for EETEP Aid organisation this is a much needed boost for our charity-we have been struggling all year, this is our main fundraiser so it means everything to us.”
“We would like to thank TJM services who supplied a van and a driver to take riders and bikes to Manchester, we would also like to thank our riders Tania Squires, Tracy Booth, Stephen Booth, Lee Copas, Nick Greenwood, Martin Tuey, Kate Henry, Anthony and Jason Burgess, Paul Higgins, Joanne Brack, Pete Rawlings, Andrew Hamilton and our youngest rider Thomas Healey age 11. Thomas was one person who I thought would not make it. The ride turned out to be 61 miles rather than the 57 mile stated, the heat was unbearable, but he just kept peddling straight through to the finish.”
Story by Chris Maxwell - with thanks to the Glossop Chronicle Newspaper for granting permission to reprint this article. If anybody would like to help Phill or would like more information on EETEP Aid organisation they can contact him on 07766657426 or email phill@eetep.org.