By Linzi Watson

Last updated at 16:51, Tuesday, 19 August 2008

A TEAM of emergency workers and friends from Longtown is to tour the county on a three-man trandem bike to raise money for charity.

Teamwork: A team of fundraisers from Longtown will be cycling around Cumbria on a three-man bike to raise money for the Pride of Cumbria air ambulance. Sitting front is Steven Bulman with, back row Billy Kirkup, Billy Kirkup Junior(CORR- his son), Carol Joyce, Ian Donald and Paul Steel

The custom made bike will be used on a 202-mile trip to raise funds for the Pride of Cumbria Air Ambulance.

The 10-strong team includes of former Longtown firefighter Ian Donald and Longtown firefighters Paul Steel and Steven Bulman.

Paul and Steven were part of a crew who scooped the Council Worker of the Year award for the heroic rescue of a farm worker whose arm was trapped in machinery.

They will join Longtown First Responders Carol Joyce, and Yvonne Mitchell along with butcher and former firefighter Billy Kirkup and his son, also Billy, from Longtown.

The rest of the team is made up from Canonbie farmer Neil Imrie, Craig Little, also from Canonbie, and Carlisle student William Box.

Ian said: “We work for the fire service and have a lot of dealings with the air ambulance.

“We understand the vital service it provides.

“It does not get any help from the government with funding, so we decided we would do our wee bit to try and help out.”

The intrepid cyclists will embark on the three-day trip on Saturday, August 23, leaving from Longtown.

With support vehicle in tow, they will head to Penrith, Shap and then Kendal, where they will stay overnight.

The following day the team will travel to Windermere, Ulverston and then Barrow stopping in Egremont before travelling back to Longtown on Monday via Whitehaven, Workington, Maryport, Silloth and Carlisle.

Ian said: “We have been undertaking some extra training for preparation both on the trandem and also on our own bikes.

“We will operate in teams of three, one team on the cycle, another following behind in our support vehicle and another will go ahead into the next town and sell raffle tickets and collect money then we will swap round.

“The response we have had to date has been tremendous, we have many local businesses who have helped us.”

Ian made the new bike with his friend, welder John Johnston from Gretna, from old bikes.

He said: “It took us about two months to make.

“We appealed to local people for old bikes and we got about 15.

“We wanted to do something different and a bit eye catching, hopefully this will help us raise as much money as possible.”

Carol added: “The cause is one close to all our hearts because we all have an appreciation for what the ambulance does. It is great to be able to raise some money for this lifesaving service.”

In 2002 Ian was also part of a team who rode a bike with a bath attached from Edinburgh to Carlisle raising £5,000 for Marie Curie and the firefighters benevolent fund.

He said: “I hope to raise another £5,000 this time.

“Obviously the financial climate is very different but we are aiming high and have about £2,500 so far.”

Ian added: “I would like to thank everyone who has helped us so far including Joe and Chris at Sign IT at Longtown for donating all the vinyl transfers for our advertising and event information and Robert Little Vans at Harker and Esk Laundry at Longtown who have very kindly sponsored our support vehicles for the weekend.”

To sponsor the team go to www.justgiving.com/sponsoredtrandemcycle or visit any branch of the Cumberland building society and quote ‘Air Ambulance Cycle Event’.

If you would like to see your company logo on the custom made bike, call Ian on 07759 862837 or Steven on 07748 393377 to arrange sponsorship.

First published at 05:35, Friday, 01 August 2008
Published by http://www.cumberlandnews.co.uk