Post by The Dark Knight on Aug 9, 2014 22:48:54 GMT
Swinton cabbie's Great Cycle for MCR Taxi Aid
Cabbie Glenn Gerrard is joining MCR Taxi Aid this year by taking part in the Great Manchester Cycle ride on Sunday 29 June.
Joined by 20 fellow taxi drivers from across the county, the Swinton driver will attempt to cycle 52 miles across the city.
Glenn, along with MCR Taxi Aid organiser John Consterdine, will be looking to raise money for both St Ann’s Hospice and Lancastrian School.
The two causes are close to their hearts, says Glenn: “I think everyone who lives in Salford at one point has lost someone in St Ann’s, but the work they do is just fantastic and we just want to help by raising as much as possible."
St Ann’s Hospice is one of the country’s biggest adult hospices which provides free care for more than 3,000 patients, their families and carers each year.
The Lancasterian School in West Disbury, Manchester, is a facility that provides a quality, inclusive education for pupils with physical difficulties, severe medical conditions and communication needs.
Glenn - a taxi driver for over 11 years - jumped at the chance to join the MCR Taxi Aid team.
“John had been keen to get all the boroughs around Manchester involved and I said I was more than happy to get something started in Salford.
“It’s a project which will raise the profile of black cabs in Salford and raise money for local charities and when they said it was for St Ann’s Hospice it felt like something I wanted to get involved with.
And although readying himself to take part in one of the counties toughest bike rides, when Glenn begins training for next year’s endurance tests, there’s one he is not looking forward to.
“I’ll be honest swimming’s not my thing because they may need more than one lifeguard!"
“But I think this gives Salford a bit more exposure and hopefully soon we can even get the cabbies running at the Salford 10k because me and John are doing it this year."
MCR Taxi Aid was created by Manchester driver and tour guide John Consterdine to enrich both the lives of the organisations they help as well as the cab drivers who get involved.
“In 2011 I wanted to do the Chester Marathon, but the wind blew me over and I broke my foot so I couldn’t run,” John said.
“When my foot repaired itself I saw the Great Manchester Cycle and then saw an even bigger challenge which was the Great Manchester Swim.
“I got talking to another taxi driver in Manchester who said I should do the run as well and do it all for charity.
“I did it and then got told that in 2013 I was the only man in Manchester to complete all three of the events – imagine that - so I decided to do it but on a bigger scale and came up with MCR Taxi Aid.
“This gives all taxi drivers in our area the chance to raise some money for charity and become aware of their fitness levels – let’s not forget taxi drivers spend most of their day sat down.
After completing the Great Manchester 10k last weekend, John intends to complete the Great Manchester Swim which will see swimmers take on a one mile stretch of water at Salford Quays on Saturday 19 July.
So far MCR Taxi Aid has raised over £3000 for the two charities and John is thankful for the support shown so far.
“I wanted to it for Lancasterian School as that is a school we do a lot of work with.
“They don’t have much money because of cutbacks so we wanted to give them some money because they do some much fantastic work.
“We then thought we could split the money between the school and St Ann’s Hospice in Little Hulton because my brother in law died – he was only 51 – there and he got such a great service from the staff,” he finished.
Following on with this story, John phoned us today to say that he was on a train from Northumbria yesterday when a lady who was a complete stranger to him, said that she had overheard his conversation with SalfordOnline and generously gave him a cheque for £5 for his charity.
You see there are still plenty of nice people out there!
salfordonline.com/localnews_page/50173-swinton_cabbie_s_great_cycle_for_mcr_taxi_aid.html
Cabbie Glenn Gerrard is joining MCR Taxi Aid this year by taking part in the Great Manchester Cycle ride on Sunday 29 June.
Joined by 20 fellow taxi drivers from across the county, the Swinton driver will attempt to cycle 52 miles across the city.
Glenn, along with MCR Taxi Aid organiser John Consterdine, will be looking to raise money for both St Ann’s Hospice and Lancastrian School.
The two causes are close to their hearts, says Glenn: “I think everyone who lives in Salford at one point has lost someone in St Ann’s, but the work they do is just fantastic and we just want to help by raising as much as possible."
St Ann’s Hospice is one of the country’s biggest adult hospices which provides free care for more than 3,000 patients, their families and carers each year.
The Lancasterian School in West Disbury, Manchester, is a facility that provides a quality, inclusive education for pupils with physical difficulties, severe medical conditions and communication needs.
Glenn - a taxi driver for over 11 years - jumped at the chance to join the MCR Taxi Aid team.
“John had been keen to get all the boroughs around Manchester involved and I said I was more than happy to get something started in Salford.
“It’s a project which will raise the profile of black cabs in Salford and raise money for local charities and when they said it was for St Ann’s Hospice it felt like something I wanted to get involved with.
And although readying himself to take part in one of the counties toughest bike rides, when Glenn begins training for next year’s endurance tests, there’s one he is not looking forward to.
“I’ll be honest swimming’s not my thing because they may need more than one lifeguard!"
“But I think this gives Salford a bit more exposure and hopefully soon we can even get the cabbies running at the Salford 10k because me and John are doing it this year."
MCR Taxi Aid was created by Manchester driver and tour guide John Consterdine to enrich both the lives of the organisations they help as well as the cab drivers who get involved.
“In 2011 I wanted to do the Chester Marathon, but the wind blew me over and I broke my foot so I couldn’t run,” John said.
“When my foot repaired itself I saw the Great Manchester Cycle and then saw an even bigger challenge which was the Great Manchester Swim.
“I got talking to another taxi driver in Manchester who said I should do the run as well and do it all for charity.
“I did it and then got told that in 2013 I was the only man in Manchester to complete all three of the events – imagine that - so I decided to do it but on a bigger scale and came up with MCR Taxi Aid.
“This gives all taxi drivers in our area the chance to raise some money for charity and become aware of their fitness levels – let’s not forget taxi drivers spend most of their day sat down.
After completing the Great Manchester 10k last weekend, John intends to complete the Great Manchester Swim which will see swimmers take on a one mile stretch of water at Salford Quays on Saturday 19 July.
So far MCR Taxi Aid has raised over £3000 for the two charities and John is thankful for the support shown so far.
“I wanted to it for Lancasterian School as that is a school we do a lot of work with.
“They don’t have much money because of cutbacks so we wanted to give them some money because they do some much fantastic work.
“We then thought we could split the money between the school and St Ann’s Hospice in Little Hulton because my brother in law died – he was only 51 – there and he got such a great service from the staff,” he finished.
Following on with this story, John phoned us today to say that he was on a train from Northumbria yesterday when a lady who was a complete stranger to him, said that she had overheard his conversation with SalfordOnline and generously gave him a cheque for £5 for his charity.
You see there are still plenty of nice people out there!
salfordonline.com/localnews_page/50173-swinton_cabbie_s_great_cycle_for_mcr_taxi_aid.html