A restaurant worker is aiming to raise money for a cancer charity by tackling the climb of his life – up Blackpool Pleasure Beach’s Big One Roller Coaster.
Kitchen assistant Mike Edwards, 23, who works at Pizza Express at the Eagles Meadow shopping centre has been inspired to do the daredevil climb by his grandmother who’s being treated for cancer.
Pizza Express has teamed up with Macmillan Cancer Care as their nominated charity this year and Mike was first to volunteer to represent the Eagles Meadow outlet at the charity event on June 24.
He said: “I jumped at the chance when I heard about the charity challenge. My nana has been really poorly and had to have chemotherapy. She doesn’t have anyone from Macmillan looking after her but I just want to support a cancer charity.
“I’m hoping to raise around £500 for the charity. It’s a climb of more than 230 feet and you have to wear a harness for safety, obviously, and you have an expert with you.”
The former Ysgol Clywedog pupil who has worked at Pizza Express for six months, added: “The view from the top must be pretty spectacular and I’m really looking forward to the event which will be physically demanding.
“The guys I work with and our customers have been very generous in sponsoring me. There are volunteers from Pizza Express outlets from all over taking part and I’m Wrexham’s representative.”
Deputy manager Paul Lach said: “We are going to run a number of special events throughout the year aimed at raising funds for Macmillan Cancer Care.
“To be fair to Mike he’s agreed to take on a pretty tough challenge and it isn’t something I could do.
“It’s a long way up to the top, more than 230 feet, and I don’t care whether I wore a harness and was strapped on or not, I really couldn’t do it.”
He added; “We are hoping to raise a really good sum of money for Macmillan over the next few months through a number of ideas we have.
“And nationwide a 25p donation from every Padana pizza sold by Pizza Express will help Macmillan to provide essential financial, emotional, medical and practical support for patients.
“It’s a terrific charity and I think everyone knows what a good job they do. We are backing Mike to get our restaurant’s fundraising off to a good start.
Eagles Meadow manager Kevin Critchley wished Mike all the best with his high rise challenge.
He said: “I’m delighted to hear the team at Pizza Express are raising funds for Macmillan Cancer Care as their nominated charity this year.
“Macmillan is a fabulous charity that needs to all the support we can give. Mike is very brave walking 235 feet up Blackpool’s Big One Roller Coaster. It’s certainly a challenge I would have to walk away from!”
To learn more about Eagles Meadow including opening times please visit www.eagles-meadow.co.uk
