Southsider on Mersey mission to Liverpool

Rachel Farrell

SOUTHSIDER Chris Heywood is cycling to Liverpool in aid of St Joseph’s Shankill and Shankill Old Folks’ Association.

Alongside his friend Ivan, the pair will cycle to Goodison Park in Liverpool to see Everton and Liverpool in the Merseyside Derby this April.

Chris was born and bred in Liverpool, and is a lifelong fan of Everton FC.

After working in Brady’s of Shankill for over 20 years, Chris decided he wanted to give something back to the community.

Fundraising manager at St Joseph’s Shankill, Siobhan Grant, explained how Chris proposed the idea to them two months ago.

“They first approached us in January and they nominated the two charities, to make an impact locally I suppose,” Siobhan said.

“Chris’s main thing is that he’s a massive Everton fan, and he’s a keen cyclist as well.

“He just thought it would be a good way to raise money. We thought, ‘what will we do around it’?

“So we got a committee together- we’re all local people, none of them are linked with us they’re just local, active citizens.

“Chris originally planned the cycle but we knew we had to organise other activities around it. It’s been all a go since then.”

The intrepid duo have received backing from Brady’s bar, as well as support from the two charities.

“We had a coffee morning about two weeks ago and even though we had no real advertising other than on our social, we had raised €1,200,” Siobhan aded.

“There’s a huge lot of community activism in Shankill which is really great.

“It was lovely to be able to know that the work we’re doing is being recognised within the community too.”

Writing on their fundraising page, Chris explained:  “I've created this page because I want to make a difference to my adopted home of Shankill.

“I have worked in Brady’s in Shankill for over 20 years and I have set myself a 300km challenge.

“Myself and my good friend Ivan will cycle from Brady’s to Everton Goodison Park in Liverpool, arriving on time to see Everton beat Liverpool in this year’s Merseyside Derby at the beginning of April.”

St Joseph’s Shankill is Ireland’s only care home solely dedicated to the care of those with dementia.

Shankill Old Folks’ Association provides a variety of services, from meals on wheels to a weekly tea club.

For many older people they provide a chance to meet their friends and socialise.

Chris and Ivan plan to leave over the weekend of April 7 and 8.

Their next fundraising event is on Friday, March 30 (Good Friday) at Brady’s pub.

They will also host a coffee morning on Thursday, April 5 in Shankill Day Care Centre at 10am.

Donations can be made online at www.give.everydayhero.com/ie/chris-and-ivan-s-road-2-merseyside.