In a spin for a good cause

A Wigan dad is getting in the saddle to raise money for charity - less than 12 months after undergoing brain surgery.
James Hinnigan will have pies and mint balls available at the spinathonJames Hinnigan will have pies and mint balls available at the spinathon
James Hinnigan will have pies and mint balls available at the spinathon

James Hinnigan is holding a charity spinathon on Saturday to support Brain Tumour Research.

He will be cycling all day at Xercise4Less in Wigan - and hopes as many people as possible will get involved to help raise both money and awareness.

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He has backed the charity since he was diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2015.

James, from Ashton, said: “People can come along, the more the merrier. They can take part and jump on a bike for five minutes, 10 minutes, an hour or three hours, whatever they want.

“The more people who come, the better it is for raising awareness about how underfunded it is. I want to raise as much money as possible.”

Xercise4Less has teamed up with Brain Tumour Research to hold spinathons around the country.

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James agreed to organise the fund-raiser in Wigan following a successful spinathon last year which saw around 60 people take part.

This time, bank Santander has agreed to match fund up to £500.

He said: “Last year we raised over £5,000.

“A day’s research at one of the centres of excellence costs £2,740 so if we could reach that target, it would be great. But whatever money we can raise will go to a good cause and raise awareness.”

James and some of his friends will be cycling all day and people can join them, go along to support or make donations.

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As well as simply cycling, spin classes will be led by instructors during the day.

Wigan favourites - pies and Uncle Joe’s Mint Balls - will be available to fuel the fund-raisers and Makerfield MP Yvonne Fovargue is expected to go along to show her support.

James, 37, was diagnosed with a brain tumour in summer 2015 while living in Australia, after he had moved there six years earlier.

He returned to Ashton in November that year and had awake brain surgery - named a craniotomy - in March to remove the tumour.

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James, who is married and has two children, said: “It will be coming up to 12 months since my surgery on March 15, 2016.

“All my scans up to now have been good.”

The spinathon will be held from 10am to 6pm on Saturday and non-members of the gym can pop along to join in or make a donation.

Alternatively, money to support James and the other fund-raisers can be given here