Three lifelong friends from Rochdale have completed an epic 1,500km cycling challenge from Oslo to the Arctic Circle in memory of their friend Simon ‘Teddy’ Taylor.
Team Arctic Ascent
Tim Knight, Tim Fairley and David Kennedy, all 58 and from Littleborough, took on the ten-day endurance ride as Team Arctic Ascent. Their goal is to raise £100,000 for the British Heart Foundation and Springhill Hospice.
The trio cycled up to 200km a day and climbed a total of 14,210 metres during the challenge. The ride was inspired by Teddy, who died in 2023 after suffering a heart attack at home, leaving behind his wife Lisa and young son. The friends say keeping his memory alive has been a key motivation behind their fundraising efforts.
Fundraising Success
The team has already raised more than three-quarters of their target and will host a charity ball on 19 June in Littleborough to help reach the £100,000 goal.
This is not their first major fundraiser. In 2024, they completed a 1,600km ‘Lake to Lake Challenge’ from Rochdale to Lake Garda in Italy, raising £100,000 and earning recognition as British Heart Foundation Fundraisers of the Year.
Supporters can donate via their JustGiving page.
