The Cleveleys mates who are repairing old bikes to donate to the Fylde coast's NHS heroes

The Fylde coast’s NHS heroes are being given the chance to get on two wheels for free after two friends from Cleveleys made a make shift bike repair shop in a Thornton church!
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Ben Kinnon and David Sherry, both 22, came up with the idea of repairing unwanted bikes to donate to frontline health workers after Ben’s dad was going to sell his old bike.

Ben, who has been furloughed from his job as an electrical engineer, started repairing the bike and thought about donating it to a keyworker. He got best friend Ben, an aerospace engineer at UCLan, involved as well.

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Ben, who lives on North Promenade, said: “When I realised I knew what I was doing with the bike I thought about doing a load of them with David.

Blackpool nurse Lucy Haslam with her new bikeBlackpool nurse Lucy Haslam with her new bike
Blackpool nurse Lucy Haslam with her new bike

“It started in our back garden but within two days of starting it was full of bikes.”

Ben’s parents, Frank and Bev had then spoken to their church, the Church of the Nazarene on Leslie Avenue in Thornton, and told them about the bikes project and the church was offered to them during lockdown.

Up to now, the pair have received 40 donated bikes and 15 have already been repaired and given away to NHS staff and their families.

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Ben said: “It has been quite emotional and some people have been really overwhelmed with what we are doing and that is one of the reasons we have loved doing it and also helping out the community.

The pair with Ben's dad FrankThe pair with Ben's dad Frank
The pair with Ben's dad Frank

As well as Ben and David, they have been helped by friends Reece Watkins, who has been cleaning and de-rusting the bikes, and Rosie Fulton who has been helping out with social media by creating videos and photos.

Frank is also helping out delivering the bikes after JMC Mechanical & Electrical loaned him one of its vans.

Wyre Cycle Fix have also been repairing some of the bikes that Ben and David haven’t been able to and heavily discounted part prices for them.

To donate a bike, message Bev Kinnon on Facebook or drop it off at the church.