Senior Sales Executive James Bakewell has clocked up over 200 miles on an exercise bike in a charity effort for the Freeman Heart and Lung Transplant Association.
James took on the challenge – the equivalent of the distance from the Hull site to Armitage and back – in support of his friends Katie and Jack Bunn who did the Great North Run earlier this month in memory of their dad, Bob.
A double lung transplant gave Bob, who was James’ rugby coach when he was younger, two more years of life before he passed away in January 2020.
The family wanted to say thank you for the help they received from the association which supports the heart and lung transplant ward in Freeman Hospital, Newcastle. They have now raised more than £3,000 – double their original target – including the proceeds from James’ efforts.
James said: “Bob was the nicest guy you could meet and the two years that the transplant gave him are extremely precious to his family.
“I wanted to support Katie and Jack but I couldn’t get a place in the Great North Run, and I’m far too clumsy to be allowed to bike 200 miles on the roads so I thought a distance challenge on an exercise bike was the best way to do it.”
We have supported James by donating money from the Armitage Thanks fund. Any colleagues involved in a charity challenge can apply for a contribution from the fund available to support employee fundraising by contacting Jenny Wilson Smith.