Tim is pictured with his bike in the appliance bay at Bletchley Fire Station

12 June 2008

Fancy a day at the seaside….why not cycle there! That is what one of Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service’s firefighters is doing.

Tim Cross, from Blue Watch, Bletchley Fire Station, is taking part in the famous London to Brighton Bike Ride on Sunday 15 June to raise money for the British Heart Foundation.

He will join 27,000 cyclists taking part in this charity event which involves cycling the 54 mile scenic route from Clapham Common to Madeira Drive near Brighton pier.

Tim, 43, joined Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service as a retained firefighter based at Bletchley Fire Station in January 1999. Finding he enjoyed the role he decided to make it a career becoming a wholetime firefighter in October 2004 at Great Holm. He transferred to his current watch at Bletchley in October 2006 where he also still continues to be a part of the retained duty system.

 Tim has been training for the event by cycling everywhere. Tim said, “I cycle to and from work and just about everywhere else I need to go. Having two young grandchildren has also helped to improve my fitness”.

Sponsorship for the bike ride would be gratefully received by Tim, who hopes to make over £500 for charity. Cheques can be made payable to the British Heart Foundation or alternatively donations can be made online by logging on to www.justgiving.com/timcross1.

 “All donations are secure and sent electronically to the British Heart Foundation, and if you are a UK taxpayer, justgiving will add an automatic 28 per cent bonus to your donation at no cost to you. Please join me in supporting a fabulous cause” said Tim. 

Since 1980 when the British Heart Foundation first become involved with the bike ride over 650,000 cyclists have taken part raising over £40 million to help fund pioneering research, patient care and vital information.

For further information visit the British Heart Foundation website
http://www.bhf.org.uk/

Andy Dale, a firefighter with Blue Watch at Aylesbury, is also taking part in the London to Brighton Bike Ride. Click HERE to find out more details of his story. Or to sponsor him for the challenge please visit his justgiving website at: http://www.justgiving.com/andy_dale

Tim will also be taking part in ‘Get on your bike 2008’. This is a sponsored 12 mile bike ride on the millennium cycle route in Milton Keynes, raising money for Cancer Research UK. Tim has been taking part in this event for several years.

“Cancer affects so many people and by taking part in this event as I feel this is my way of raising money to aid vital research.”

If you would like to join Tim and enter Get on your bike 2008 please visit the Cancer Research UK webpage at: http://supportus.cancerresearchuk.org/Events/Charity_bike_rides/104

The event is 11am on Sunday 20 July, starting and finishing at Furzton Lake, and can be enjoyed by all the family. Tim managed to complete the course twice last year, finishing ahead of many who were only doing one lap!

Cancer Research UK is the world’s leading independent organisation dedicated to cancer research. To find out more about the charity and the work they do, please visit their website at www.cancerresearchuk.org.uk