Manchester is a huge part of my life, being a tour guide , taxi driver and now a tutor at The Manchester College teaching the Taxi Knowledge. I like to get involved in all aspects of Manchester life. I have appeared as an extra in Coronation Street, had a speaking part in ‘Shameless’, and for many years I have been a regular guest on ‘The Late Lunch’ with Becky Want on BBC Radio Manchester
Along with, what my kids laughingly call, my ‘Media Career’, I try to keep as fit as I can. Last year, a chance conversation with Ian Reid (MR.BLACKCAB) led me to do three Great Manchester events (run, swim and cycle). Unbelievably, I was the ONLY person in Manchester to do all three! The media picked up on this and I had extensive newspaper coverage as well as a great time being filmed for the BBC and Channel 4.
I was really amazed by the generosity of the donations, raising £1250 for Lancasterian School, a great specialist school dedicated to teaching and supporting children who have physical, complex medical and/or complex communication difficulties. For more information, do visit the website which details the unbelievable work done by the school. Visiting Lancasterian is a totally different experience. I was lucky to be invited to their Christmas Concert and to see first hand the work by dedicated staff , parents and students was humbling, to say the least.
2013 brought me fresh challenges: a family bereavement brought home the fragility of life. What could I do ? I did the only thing I could do, which was to challenge myself. Another chat with MR.BLACKCAB and, as a result, Manchester Taxi Aid was launched. This year, we decided to split any donations between St.Ann’s Hospice and Lancasterian School.
Our challenge is to raise awareness of taxi drivers’ fitness while raising much needed funds for the two causes we have chosen. This links my own personal challenges, which this year are:
Please, if you can, consider donating to our charity at uk.virginmoneygiving.com/MRandTT Every little bit helps!
If you would like to join me on any of these events, please contact me. As ever, a warm Mancunian welcome is guaranteed!
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