Manchester to Blackpool bike ride raises £500

On the 11th of July 2011, myself and my dad, David Gill travelled to Manchester United's stadium (old Trafford) to start our 60 mile bike ride to Blackpool. We started around 10am.

It was mainly flat until we reached Atherton. It was a gentle upward gradient, however it went on for about 2 miles. Even though it wasn't bad for me and my dad, many other people had to stop half way up the hill for a breather. After that we made our way towards Westhoughton where we had to overcome a short 17% upward gradient which was diffucult. Then at last we reached a big down hill section which finished at the massive hill going past Standish golf club.

We torched down the hill reaching a maximum of 32.2 mph, which wasn't half scary!!

At the bottom - the horrifying climb, it never seemed to end! And to add to the difficulty, the heavens opened and it was so hard, it felt like hailstones, you couldn't see more than 20 meters in front of you. The climb was the ALPE-D’HUEZ (from the tour de France ) of the bike ride.

It was mainly down hill or flat all the way to Preston where we started to feel slightly tired but there was a nasty surprise when we got to Kirkham ( if you know Kirkham, you know what i mean). To get into the town you have to get into a tough upwards battle not to get off your bike and walk up ( which many did). My dad shot up it on top gear ( no mercy) leaving me on my smallest gear crawling up at 4mph. I saw a snail pass me.

Then another 7 miles we reached Blackpool promenade. As my dad increased his speed to try over take me and win, me, the big Mark Cavendish sprinted down leaving my dad back in the dust. It took us 4 and half hours to complete.

Even though it was difficult, it was worth it. Me and my Dad raised a grand total of £500 !!!!!

I hope me and my dad have made a difference to the wonderful work the Abaseen foundation does and to continue to do in the future. The Abaseen foundation changes so many people lives in Pakistan and now is doing more than supporting hospitals, it now helps many children to get a good education.

I would to give a massive thank you to all the people who sponsored us !!! You have made a massive difference and we couldn't have raised as much as we did without evey single pound you gave to us! Hopefully we will do it again, can't wait!!! It was a wonderful day perhaps YOU could join us next year :-)

Michael Gill, volunteer and fundraiser for the Abaseen foundation