Cycling heroes of fire station

PRIDE in Oldham nominees Blazing Saddles, from left, Chris Hutchings, Phil Courtnell, Lee Cropper and Chris Dean

FABULOUS firefighters from the Blazing Saddles fundraising team have been nominated for a Pride in Oldham award for raising £60,000 from a series of gruelling charity challenges.

The team, based at Oldham Fire Station, Lees Road, have taken part in three strength-sapping bike rides since they formed in 2013.

Founder Lee Cropper set up the group following the stillbirth of his daughter Grace in 2012 as a way of raising money for stillbirth and neonatal charity Sands.

With the help of station officer Phil Courtnell, the Blazing Saddles decided to cycle to each of the 41 fire stations in Greater Manchester, a challenge which raised £13,000.

Their next fundraiser in 2014 saw the group climb each of the UK's three highest peaks and cycle the 500 miles between each one.

And their third mission in 2016 was a tough 1,300-mile European cycle challenge from Oldham's twin town of Kranj, in Slovenia, back to the borough in just 11 days.

The firefighters are now in training for their biggest challenge to date - a mammoth 1,700 cycle ride from Gibraltar Street in Oldham to the actual Rock of Gibraltar in just 14 days next summer.

Not only have the Blazing Saddles raised thousands for worthy causes but their endeavours have earned them a nomination for a Spirit of Fire award from The Firefighters Charity.

Lee said: "Its brilliant to be nominated for a Pride in Oldham award, it feels really nice to be appreciated in this way.

"When we lost our daughter Grace, Sands did a lot for us and helped us through a very low time. So we always raise money for them in her memory with every challenge as well as the Firefighters Charity with every challenge."