Maghull duo saddle up for charity in China

TWO women from Maghull are heading to China for a grueling 300-mile charity bike ride.

Paula Hogg, 56, and Ann Pruden, 59, will travel to China in 2014 to ride across the Beijing Provence for Women V Cancer.

The cycle will raise money for three women’s cancer charities: Breast Cancer Care, Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust and Ovarian Cancer Action. They have a target of £6,000 but have put in place a series of fundraising activities to try and raise even more.

The pair, who have been friends for 20 years after meeting at the school gate with their children, have never done anything like this before but decided to take part after Paula underwent treatment for breast cancer in 2010/11.

Paula, who works as a Coordinator for PSS, a Health and Social Care Charity in Liverpool, said: “Finding out I had breast cancer turned my world upside down, but after going through months of gruelling radiation and chemotherapy sessions I finally saw a light at the end of the tunnel and from that day I decided to start living my life to the full. I promised myself I’d start seizing opportunities, have adventures and give something back to the amazing charities that help women like me every single day – and what better way to tick all those boxes than to take on this challenge.”

Paula and Ann last month held a fundraising night at Maghull’s MCA Club, which kindly donated the venue for free.

Ann, who has been a childminder for the past 26 years, said: These charities are close to my heart as I’ve known many women who’ve suffered with cancer.’’

Everest date for Stratford adrenaline junkie

George Joseph is preparing to climb just beyond the base camp of Mount Everest in November to raise money for children's cancer charity CLIC Sargent.

Originally born in South Africa, the 37-year-old moved to Stratford in 2001 where a chance meeting with a British Army officer led to him signing up to serve his adopted country for two years.

Now working as a Helping Hands carer – providing support for patients with dementia - he will fly to Nepal on November 7.

Aside from a few days of recuperation and acclimatisation, he will trek between two and four hours per day in temperatures as low as -25 degrees until he reaches around 18,000ft (5,550m). He is expected to reach his goal on November 19.

But it is not the gruelling trek that bothers the father of twins, more the flight in and out of the notorious mountain airport of Lukla.

George told the Observer: "Lukla Airport where I am due to land and take off just before and after the expedition has the shortest runaway and is the most dangerous airport in the world.

"I've got no fear of undertaking the event but the thought of the flight actually scares me more than the challenge.

"I thrive off adrenaline and I've always wanted to do mad things in my life but like everyone, I've got goals in life. For me, when I reach old age I want to be able to show my kids what I did when I was younger.

"I trekked for five days across the desert in Fish River Canyon, South Africa and I think this combined with the experience I gained in the British Army will definitely help me during the challenge.

"Obviously you've got to be in good shape so I have been doing a lot of cardiovascular work but altitude always affects people differently so I guess we will have to see.

"If I make it through this challenge in one piece I would like to put myself forward to do the summit in about 3 or 4 years time but for now, November can't come soon enough!”

Before the climb George will be holding a number of fund-raising events - the first of which will be a quiz night at The Crown in Tiddington from 7.30pm on Friday April 26.

Former Bradford City star Wayne Jacobs in mountain fundraiser

Former Bradford City player and assistant manager Wayne Jacobs (pictured) is preparing to scale the heights for disadvantaged children.

He is taking on the Welsh 3000s challenge – a shattering test that involves covering 15 peaks of over 3,000 feet and 33 miles in a 24-hour period on Thursday, July 4.

Mr Jacobs aims to smash a £1,500 target for the Bradford-based One in a Million children’s charity.

He said: “I’ve challenged myself to raise money for the disadvantaged young people in our community. I want to help give them access to opportunities they might never receive and change the course of their life.”