A lawyer from Alderley Edge is preparing to travel 1,500 miles across the country in a motorised rickshaw to raise money for the charity which helped her battle breast cancer.
Joanne Flitcroft was diagnosed with breast cancer in July 2011, at the relatively young age of 40. She was treated at the Genesis Centre in Wythenshawe under consultant surgeon Lester Barr, who is also the chairman of Genesis Breast Cancer Prevention.
In order to give something back to Genesis Joanne decided to buy and customise an Indian auto rickshaw to drive 1,500 miles around the country with her two friends Hannah Reeves and Nicole Xodo. The three of them will be sporting pink boiler suits to raise money and awareness for Genesis.
Joanne said "I am a very keen traveller and in recent years have also completed some long distance and, some would say, unusual charity rallies. In 2008 I and four others drove two Ford Fiestas from Hyde Park in London to Kribi in Cameroon, West Africa – crossing the Sahara along the way. In 2010, my fiancé and I drove a motorised rickshaw from Pokhara in Nepal to Kochi in Kerala, India, a journey of some 2,243 miles. After my treatment I wanted to do something to help support and promote the Genesis Appeal and after considering all the sensible options, I came up with this.
"The rickshaw is three wheeled, open sided and does a maximum 35mph so that is quite a challenge!"
The team will be setting off from The Nightingale Centre in Wythenshawe, home of the Genesis Appeal, on 29th June. They will then head for Edinburgh, charge down to London, then travel across to Cardiff before returning to Alderley Edge ten days later on 8th July.
Joanne added "Local support has been fantastic so far with George Osborne inviting us to visit him in Downing Street along the way, Christine Munro inviting us to join the May Fair parade, Panacea hosting our finish line party for us and a lot of local businesses helping us with sponsorship and prizes for raffles and auctions."
The rickshaw is physically demanding to drive and is about as reliable as it looks so it's going to be a big challenge. Along the way they will be taking some detours, big and small, to meet people and any side challenges presented to them in return for extra donations.
You can sponsor the Pink Ribbon Rickshaw Team and donate to the Genesis Appeal via their Justgiving page.
Look out for Joanne, Hannah and Nicole at the Alderley Edge May Fair on Saturday 19th May. They will be taking part in the parade with their Pink Ribbon Rickshaw and they will also be in the park for the main event.
For further information visit the Pink Ribbon Rickshaw website.
