Taxi pals’ drive to help fellow cabbies get fit 
Two drivers have set up their own charity, Manchester Taxi Aid, to raise money for two good causes: St Ann’s Hospice and the Lancasterian Specialist School based in Didsbury John Consterdine from Manchester Taxi Tours and Ian Reid have set up a charity to raise money for St Ann’s Hospice and a Manchester specialist school John Consterdine from Manchester Taxi Tours and Ian Reid have set up a charity to raise money for St Ann’s Hospice and a Manchester specialist school
Taxi drivers who almost died after becoming so unhealthy because of their jobs are challenging other cabbies to get fit – and raise money for their new charity.
Ian Reid and John Consterdine were both struck down by ill health and faced a fight to survive.
They blamed the nature of their role – driving around in a car all day – for their sickness and both have previously suffered weight problems.
Now the pair have set up their own charity, Manchester Taxi Aid, to raise money for two good causes: St Ann’s Hospice and the Lancasterian Specialist School based in Didsbury.
They are encouraging colleagues to take part in a series of sporting challenges this summer to boost fitness levels and raise money for the appeal.
Ian, 47, from Brooklands, Sale, said: “A lot of taxi drivers don’t do enough exercise.
“They’re sitting down all day and there’s a lot of stress involved driving around all day, especially with all the traffic in Manchester nowadays.
“I went up to 19 stone and had a chest infection that left me with an inflamed spinal cord last year.
“I know the underlying reason was because I wasn’t fit and knew I had to improve my level of health.
“I don’t want other drivers to end up like me.”
Ian has embarked on a fitness regime and aims to take part in the Great Manchester Cycle on June 30, raising money for the hospice where his late aunt Edna Fearns, 76, from Salford, was a leukaemia patient, and Lancasterian School, which uses his cabs to transport pupils with special needs.
John, 50, from Prestwich, is doing all the Manchester challenges, starting with the Greater Manchester Marathon on Sunday, April 28, before the Great Manchester Run, Swim and Cycle and the Manchester to Blackpool bike ride.
He runs Manchester Taxi Tours, taking visitors on a guided tour of famous landmarks in his black cab which he has been driving for 20 years.
John was given just hours to live after contracting septicaemia a decade ago – but against all the odds he pulled through.
He revealed that one of his relatives was treated at St Ann’s Hospice, adding: “I’m a big fan of St Ann’s which is a wonderful institution and has such dignity and a great sense of belonging. The treatment from staff was second to none.”
To sponsor the pair and donate to Manchester Taxi Aid go to
www.virginmoneygiving.com/MRandTTsource:
http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/ ... ow-2822235
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