Cinema worker to tackle 300 miles on bike and foot for charity (From York Press)

Cinema worker to tackle 300 miles on bike and foot for charity

8:01am Saturday 25th February 2012 in News By Dan Bean, dan.bean@thepress.co.uk

JOE Richardson will cover more than 300 miles when he takes on a series of road races and an epic bike ride to raise vital funds for charity.

The 28-year-old will run in the Manchester and York 10km races, the Great North Run, and ride from London to Paris later this year, to boost the coffers of The Huntington’s Disease Association.

The charity has a special significance for him and his wife, Mary. He said: “Mary’s dad Michael died in the late 90’s from Huntington’s Disease which means that she stands a 50/50 chance of developing the disease.

“The disease was one of those things that gets mentioned when talking about genetics in school, but I didn’t know much more about, until I met Mary.”

To help raise awareness about the disease, and money to go towards research, Joe will run the Manchester 10k in May, the York 10k in August, and the Great North Run in September, as well as cycling 500km between London and Paris in just four days in August.

He said: “I’m honestly thinking ‘how the hell did this happen?’. “I’m hoping to raise £1,400, but obviously I’d love to smash that and raise as much as I can. To be honest, I just hope I get to Paris.”

Joe, who works at City Screen in York, has also set up a number of events in the run up to his athletic efforts, including a charity gig on Friday, March 16, at City Screen’s Basement, to be headlined by We Could Be Astronauts, with support from The Littlemores and Montego Bay.

Joe said: “Being able to help the HDA and raise funds for them to continue their work is very important to me as Huntington’s Disease affects the person closest to me. “I’ve been called everything from mad to inspirational for taking on so many challenges in such a short period of time but, to me, it’s worth it if money that I raise goes to helping those who face a much bigger challenge every day, that of living with, and caring for those who suffer with, Huntington’s Disease.”

Tickets for The Huntington’s Disease Association Charity Event cost £5 and are available from the City Screen York box office or through the website picturehouses.co.uk/york

For more information on the appeal visit joerichardson.net or to donate visit virginmoneygiving.com/joerichardson