Soap team vows to clean up with charity bike ride
Emmerdale cast and crew members are taking a break from their punishing film schedule – to take on an even more gruelling challenge.
Nine cyclists including actor Tony Audenshaw (café owner Bob Hope), are tackling the 185-mile Wales in a Day bike ride, which takes in 15,000 feet of ascent between Caernarfon and Chepstow.
They’re doing it all to raise money for us, continuing a long association between Emmerdale and our charity.
Emmerdale sound supervisor Dean Wright suggested the idea after being encouraged by two cycling friends, who are joining seven Emmerdale cyclists on the ride.
The decision to go ahead was made over a curry, with Tony suggesting the money raised be given to York Against Cancer.
Tony sadly lost his wife Ruth to cancer last year, and Dean said: “Because of everything that’s happened we put our hands straight up when he put the charity forward for support.”
Tony added: “There’s an association with York Against Cancer through York Rocks (the annual concert that Emmerdale and local musicians hold to raise money for us).
“The work that York Against Cancer does is all the really useful, helpful stuff, taking people to hospital which is draining for people when they are having treatment, and getting the mobile chemotherapy unit out and about and giving people respite stays.
“It is a really good, local cause, and it felt like a good fit for us, it felt right.”
Tony said his training had gone well after a shaky start. “In April this year I suddenly realised I hadn’t done anything like enough, so I got my head down and really worked hard. It’s the climb that’s going to be the hard bit – I have done just short of 10,000 feet in my preparation and it’s going to be a challenge!”
Dean added: “I am really excited but a bit worried. I have bad knees, so I will take a lot of painkillers!”
We’ll all be rooting for the team tomorrow (July 21) and keeping our fingers crossed that they have a successful day. If you’d like to support their effort you can donate at their JustGiving page on http://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/walesinaday-teamemmerdale