Firefighters, volunteers, and staff from across Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) have raised thousands to support the people of Ukraine.
And they say it’s all thanks to “the generosity of people” across the region.
Last weekend, fire stations across Greater Manchester held charity car wash events, and colleagues from across GMFRS as well as Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) all chipped in to wash cars and collect donations from members of the public, which eventually tallied up to an impressive £32,000.
15 different fire stations across Greater Manchester held events across the two days.
GMFRS says all of the money raised will be shared with Greater Manchester-based frontline medical aid charity UK-Med – which has launched an emergency appeal backed by the Mayor of Greater Manchester.
“I’m incredibly proud of the hard work of all our firefighters, support staff and volunteers over the weekend [as] together we washed thousands of cars and raised thousands of pounds to go towards vital supplies for Ukraine,” said Chief Fire Officer Dave Russel on the success of the event.
He continued: “We stand in solidarity with Ukraine and will do whatever we can to support all those affected by the devastating and tragic events that continue to unfold.
“The car washing days are just one of the ways the service is helping this vital cause.
WOW! What a day 🇺🇦🚒🧽
Thanks to all our colleagues and volunteers who washed cars today and all those who brought their vehicles along and donated for @UKMed
— Greater Manchester Fire & Rescue Service (@manchesterfire) March 12, 2022
“I’d like to thank everyone that came along to the car washes, whether that be to wash cars, bring food supplies for our staff, or have a vehicle washed for a donation.
“We are overwhelmed by the support and generosity of the people of Greater Manchester.”
The car wash events came as firefighters continue to support local charities with the ongoing humanitarian effort, which has also included crews helping with the sorting and distributing of donations at the Bury Polish Centre, and distributing aid to warehouses in Trafford Park before they are shipped to Poland.
GMFRS said they had heard plenty of “heartwarming” stories of the community’s generosity and support over the weekend.
At Marple fire station, local residents Alan and Joyce donated the £100 that they would have spent celebrating their recent 50th wedding anniversary, and Rochdale fire station, emergency service colleagues from Greater Manchester Police and North West Ambulance Service helped firefighters and GMFRS staff to clean cars.
When firefighters at Farnworth fire station were called out to an emergency incident, members of the public took it upon themselves to wash cars and still donated generously.
15 different fire stations across Greater Manchester held events across the two days this past weekend / Credit: GMFRS
GMFRS also received thanks from local residents and organisations with links to Ukraine.
At Whitefield fire station, a resident from Ukraine dropped by to thank crews and volunteers, while at Agecroft, members of the Eccles Polish Centre also gave their thanks and sandwiches to GMFRS staff, who have recently been helping to sort donations at the centre.
The fire service’s fundraising efforts aren’t ending there either.
Later this week, a team of volunteers from GMFRS will join a national convoy to deliver fire and rescue equipment to support firefighters on the frontline in Ukraine.
Bury FC offering free tickets to Morecambe fans amid ongoing club crisis
Danny Jones
Bury FC are offering free tickets to travelling Morecambe fans free tickets to an upcoming match in a show of solidarity for the fellow North West football club amid their ongoing crisis.
For anyone unaware of the situation in the Lancashire town, Morecambe FC could soon be no more after being suspended from the National League as they face further financial uncertainty.
At present, controversial owners Bond Group Investments LTD, led by businessman Jason Whittingham, have failed to sell the struggling club despite multiple deadlines, leaving the vital community sporting organisation on the precipice of complete collapse.
While the seaside team currently have no fixtures to look forward to with the 25/26 season now underway for various parts of the football pyramid, the Greater Manchester outfit, which only recently survived similarly their own precarious circumstances, has offered Morecambe fans free admission.
Although this is a very temporary alternative, with complimentary tickets being offered for Bury’s Northern Premier League West season home opener against Newcastle Town, it is a touching show of support from regional counterparts who know all too well the fear and pain of potential dissolution.
Sharing a post on their official website and social media along with the message, “We’ve been where you are. We stand with you.”, The Shakers have stated that anyone who turns up at Gigg Lane for the game this Saturday, 9 August, with their season ticket or wearing a Morecambe badge can enter for free.
It was only back in 2019 that Bury themselves were expelled from the football league after 125 years as a result of their unpaid debts. It’s fair to say that the state of affairs at Morecambe looks strikingly familiar.
Plenty of clubs have been placed into administration and hit with suspensions over the years, and Bury did go on to reunite their AFC phoenix club back in May 2023, but unfortunately, nothing is ever certain given how money-driven modern football is.
To add more context, Whittingham has been registered as the director of 25 companies during his career, but it’s important to add that a staggering total of 18 have been dissolved (either forcibly or voluntarily), put into administration, liquidated, or put into receivership – the stage before full liquidation.
It remains to be seen how many travelling Shrimps supporters will make the nearly 50-mile journey to 0161 for the game, but Bury’s classy gesture has nevertheless been met with plenty of praise.
For now, it has been reported that Morecambe have anywhere between the end of the week and 20 August – when the National League meets to discuss the matter again – to balance books and/or discover their fate.
The beautiful game belongs to everyone; people of all regions and walks of life, from the grassroots all the way up to the Premier League, and as a footy-obsessed part of the world, we all know all too well how important it is to have these sporting and crucially social outlets in local areas.
Sending all our support to all those at Morecambe FC, and we hope to see these dire straits resolved with the right outcome sooner rather than later.
Bury offering free tickets to Morecambe fans is touching, but when are clubs going to get better protection from questionable ownership?
Blackpool Pleasure Beach announces its famous ‘late night riding’ is back this summer
Emily Sergeant
Blackpool Pleasure Beach has announced that its famous ‘late night riding’ event is making a grand return this summer.
Don’t quite feel ready to say goodbye to summer just yet, and want to cling onto that laidback lifestyle for a little longer?
Well luckily the Lancashire seaside town’s beloved theme park has just announced that it will be bringing back its ever popular ‘late night riding’ hours for one Saturday only later this month, and tickets are now on sale.
It’s not just us calling it ‘late night riding’ for nothing, by the way, that is genuinely what Blackpool Pleasure Beach has decided to name the event.
Blackpool Pleasure Beach’s famous ‘late night riding’ is making a comeback / Credit: Blackpool Pleasure Beach
Anyway, on Saturday 23 August, Blackpool Pleasure Beach will be open from 10am right through until late in the evening, so thrill-seekers can enjoy their favourite rides under the town’s twinkling lights once the sun has gone down.
“Enjoy the fantastic atmosphere as the park sparkles and shines in the dark,” Blackpool Pleasure Beach said as it announced the event‘s return.
While Blackpool Pleasure Beach is always a great day out during the daylight hours anyway, Late Night Riding gives you the chance to ‘brave your favourite rides in the dark’, and experience the park like never before.
Staying open until late means there’s even more hours to ride into the night on the UK’s tallest rollercoaster, the Big One, check out the twists and turns of ICON in the evening, enjoy a night race on the Grand National, and ride on the the Big Dipper at dusk.
There’ll also be a show-stopping fireworks display on the day at 10pm.
The spectacular fireworks displays have a different theme each Late Night Riding event, and always fill the skies above the rollercoasters, rides, and attractions of the park with plenty of colour, while special shows, themed music, and live entertainment fill the park below, all to make sure that visitors have the most immersive experience
The popular event will return for one night only later this month / Credit: Blackpool Pleasure Beach
Tickets for Late Night Riding on Saturday 23 August are available online, and will set you back £35 for an online ticket or £50 on the day.
If you’re unable to make this month’s Late Night Riding though, don’t worry, as you’ll have a chance to visit in a couple of months time when the event returns again in late November
Emily Sergeant -
16th March 2022 
