Fairport team prepares for wheelie big challenge

Leading provider of commercial waste container services, Fairport Containers, is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year by aiming to raise £20,000 for charities.

The firm, headquartered in Market Place, Adlington, Chorley, has chosen two local good causes, Derian House Children’s Hospice and St Catherine’s Hospice, as well as Cancer Research UK, to share its funds raised during the year.

For its first major event, a team from the firm is embarking on a 127-mile cycle ride along the Leeds Liverpool Canal at the end of April. Chairman Andrew Porter and managing director Steve Collinson will be taking part, along with business development manager David Porter, sales manager Mike Salmon and financial controller David Holden.

“I enjoy cycling, but I’m by no means an expert and our training has been hampered somewhat by the weather. This really will be a challenge for us,” Andrew said.

“We’re very proud to be celebrating our 20th anniversary, which makes us the longest standing UK company in our field, and we thought a nice way to celebrate would be to help out some charities which are close to our hearts.”

Local business Charnock Richard Cycles has donated cycling jerseys for the team.

Keen cyclist Steve came up with the idea of the bike ride – even though this trip will be more than 100 miles further than his longest ride to date.

“I have never in my life cycled anything like this distance, but if it wasn’t going to be difficult then we wouldn’t be asking people to dig deep and sponsor us,” he said.

“The two hospices touch the lives of so many people in this region, as most of us will know someone who has been affected by cancer. This being the case we want to do our utmost to help our charities.”

The firm will be holding a range of other events throughout 2013 to boost its fundraising total. To sponsor the team, go to www.virginmoneygiving.com/team/fairport