Cyclists pass through Warrington to raise funds for anti-landmine charity (From This Is Cheshire)

Cyclists pass through Warrington to raise funds for anti-landmine charity

3:00pm Monday 15th June 2009 in News By Neil Docking

MORE than 1,500 people completed a 38-mile bike ride through Warrington in aid of the MAG (Mines Advisory Group) charity.

The journey from Manchester to Liverpool saw fundraisers set off from Salford Quays, cycle along the Trans-Pennine cycle trail and Manchester Ship Canal and arrive at a finish line in Otterspool Park on Sunday, May 31.

There they were greeted by a field full of bodies and abandoned bicycles, ice cream vans, a jazz band and the chance to try out one of MAG’s metal detectors in a dummy minefield.

Wearing heavy protective equipment in the heat gave a realistic taste of the difficulties MAG’s de-mining teams face working all day African countries with the threat of real mines around them.

The person who raises the most sponsorship money for MAG by June 30 could still win a new bike worth £400, courtesy of the Edinburgh Bicycle Co-operative, edinburghbicycle.com.

Lesley Achim, MAG’s events officer, said: “I want to give a huge thanks to everyone who took part and raised money for MAG. We’re hoping this will become an annual event, so watch out for it next year!"

"We’re hoping this will become an annual event, so watch out for it next year!"

Lesley Achim, MAG’s events officer

MAG is currently working in countries such as Sri Lanka, Iraq, Lebanon, Angola, Sudan, Rwanda, Cambodia and Lao PDR.

The Manchester-based international humanitarian organisation is co-laureate of the 1997 Nobel Peace Prize, awarded for its work with the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL), which culminated in the 1997 Mine Ban Treaty - the international agreement that bans the use and manufacture of anti-personnel landmines.

For more information visit maginternational.org.