Blaze crew fired up for Euro epic

BLAZING Saddles . . . from left, Chris Hutchins, Phil Courtnell, Ian Hall, Mark Canning, Lee Cropper, Chris Derbyshire, Julian Hodges, Chris Dean and Matt Davenport ready for their marathon challenge

TRAINING is lengthy and tough for a crew of fundraising firefighters - but then they do plan a 1,300-mile ride from Slovenia to Oldham later this year.

The firefighters, of Oldham Fire Station in Lees Road, will set off from Oldham’s twin town of Kranj on June 1 on their “Blazing Saddles” tour, crossing the Alps and seven countries on the 10-day challenge to raise money for five charities.

It will be the crew’s third fund-raising challenge following 2013’s ride to all 41 Greater Manchester fire stations - 176 miles in a day.

Blazing Saddles Two in 2014 saw the group climb each of the UK’s three highest peaks and cycle the 500 miles between each one.

For the third and biggest challenge, they have been cycling 200 miles a week to get rady.

Organiser Lee Cropper said: “Training has been okay so far, but it has been tough. We aim to keep increasing our miles until a few weeks before the challenge, then add in a few hill rides to prepare for the Alps. We’re hopeful we’ll hit our target of £40,000, more than ever before.”

Charities supported include Macmillan, the Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Charity, Teenage Diabetes, Manchester Eye Hospital and the firefighters charity.

To sponsor them visit http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/blazingsaddlesoldham