Local duo Andrew Duxbuy (Wardle) and Tim Liptrot (Heywood) cycled from Molineux to the DW Stadium at the weekend, in memory of Tim’s grandad Albert Liptrot, to raise funds for Springhill Hospice.
The pair completed the 102 mile ride on Saturday.
Donations are still being taken. Click HERE to access the JustGiving page.
Tim explains more about the challenge and Albert, who was a regular visitor to the Crown Oil Arena over the years, below.
This year would have been my Grandad’s 100th year. Had he still been with us he wouldn't have wanted any fuss and would have preferred a donation to the hospice to any gifts. Therefore I wanted to do a fitting fundraiser, in tribute to an amazing man.
My Grandad, was born in Wigan in 1921. In his 20s, jobs were scarce in Wigan and so he rode to Wolverhampton with his brother on a tandem hoping to find work. He was sold this tandem being told it could do 60mph and they would be there in no time. Needless to say that was not the case and on securing a job for himself, his brother and his father (who had not made the trip) they had to get home to tell them the good news. They couldn't face the return leg though so gave the tandem bike to a lorry driver in exchange for a lift back home.
The family relocated to Wolverhampton and he met my Grandma there as well as finding another love...Wolverhampton Wanderers. He watched them often with his brother whilst living there, and still followed them watching them on TV whenever he could.
After securing a job with Craddocks shoes (who were taken over by Clarks) he relocated briefly to Stoke before moving to Rochdale, bringing my Grandma, my Dad and Uncle, where he managed the Clarks store for years.
My Grandad was extremely proud to be from Wigan and always spoke with passion about his upbringing in Orrell, reminiscing about his childhood around there and Upholland. He followed Wigan rugby, a passion he passed on to me and something we watched together for the rest of his life.
He was proud of his work and the career he had with Clarks and enjoyed his life in Rochdale. I was always blown away (though not surprised) by the number of people who knew him and the respect always shown to him. He certainly earned that.
I thought it would be a fitting tribute to emulate his ride from Wolverhampton to Wigan in summer this year, going from the ground of Wigan Rugby League to the Molineux, home of the Wolves, in order to raise vital funds for Springhill Hospice who provide care & support to people with a life limiting illness and their families.
Click HERE to donate.