Wigan fund-raiser who organised cycle ride brings in thousands for hospice

Ian organised a 100km bike ride for Wigan and Leigh Hospice as the popular Manchester to Blackpool fund-raiser had to be scrapped due to Covid-19.

He has now reached his impressive target of £8,000 for the Hindley-based charity with friends and family all getting on their bikes to help raise the total.

Ian was joined for his 62-mile ride between Wigan, Preston, Southport and Ashton by some well-known names from the 13-man code, with Ian’s brother-in-law and Wigan Warriors rugby general manager Kris Radlinski, former Wigan star and GB international Gary Connolly and ex-Bradford Bulls and Wigan Warriors scrum half Paul Deacon all getting in the saddle for the fund-raising.

Ian, who works in IT for a major bank, wanted to help the hospice for the care given to his mum Sharon Twigg before her death in June and his cycling team was rounded out by friends Phil Barker, whose dad also died at the hospice, and Phil O’Neill.

The younger generation also got in on the fund-raising act a day later with Ian’s children Isla and Lucy joined by his sister Rachel Radlinski’s son Samuel and daughter Isobel for a 10km ride at the DW Stadium.

Ian, 41, said: “We were planning on doing the Manchester to Blackpool ride but it was cancelled because of coronavirus.

“The hospice put out that you could do a virtual ride of the same distance instead. I wanted to do something for them as they were absolutely brilliant with mum so I assembled the team.

“I had some ex-rugby league players as my cyclists. Paul Deacon has been my best mate since we were in the same primary school class together and has been doing a lot of cycling over lockdown so he said he was definitely doing it.

“Kris Radlinski joined in and Gary Connolly is his best friend and he rides his bike a lot so 100km was no problem for him.

“The other two in my team were Phil O’Neill, who I know because our daughters are in the same class, and Phil Barker who said he wanted to join in and raise funds for the hospice when he realised what we were doing.

“My kids and my sister’s kids then got some sponsorship together and did a ride of their own. We wanted somewhere safe for them to ride so marked out a course around the DW Stadium.

“The amount we have raised and the number of people who are behind us is overwhelming and humbling."

Ian and his fellow cyclists covered the 100km ride in an impressive three hours and 49 minutes.

His friends Nick Langdale and Lee Bennett also joined in on sections of the route.

As the Just Giving page runs for a year, further hospice fund-raising is being planned, with Ian's sister considering a triathlon and dad Frank Twigg looking at doing a 10k run.

For more information or to donate, visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/sharonltwigg