Joanne puts her foot down for charity

12:50pm Tuesday 19th August 2008

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A WARRINGTON woman is raising money for a cancer charity by taking part in a gruelling 11-day bike ride across the Baltic States.

Joanne Whitehead, aged 30, of Thelwall Lane, will be cycling for Marie Curie Cancer Care next week to help the charity to celebrate its 60th anniversary year.

Bike the Baltics will see more than 100 UK cyclists get involved, starting the ride from the capital of Poland, Warsaw and finishing at the capital of Latvia, Riga.

There are four different routes to take in the event, each lasting a week and totalling 2000km – Warsaw to Vilnius, Vilnius to Tallinn, Tallinn to Riga, and Riga to St. Petersburg – and Joanna is braving two of them.

“I decided to celebrate my 30th birthday in style this year,” Joanne said.

“The training was hard work at first as I’d never cycled before but I really got into it. The fundraising has been a challenge too but I’ve loved it.

“At a car boot sale a man gave me a donation as his wife was being cared for by a Marie Curie nurse. It’s so motivating to know you’re helping to make that possible.”

Participants aim to raise around £250,000 – enough money for the charity to provide more than 12,500 hours of free nursing care to terminally ill cancer patients.

Hannah Taylor, one of the fundraisers, added: “We’re so grateful to Jo for taking on this challenge. She has already raised more than £4,000 for Marie Curie Cancer Care.”

To find out more information about other fundraising cycle events call Hannah on 0161 255 2809.

To sponsor Joanne visit www.justgiving.com/joan newhitehead.