Gary's 3rd Extreme Fundraiser "Keep Swimming" event was to take place on Saturday, May 2nd 2009, setting off at 6am from the A6 outside Manchester city centre carrying a 200lb fridge-freezer from Manchester to Wigan. At 24 miles it is longer than the last trek where he carried the fridge from Southport to Standish and raised £3,000 for The Christie cancer hospital in Manchester and London's St Bartholomew's Children's Hospital eye cancer fund.

Sadly, at the beginning of April, one month before the above event was to take place, Gary suffered a heart attack.  Gary's doing fine but obviously the event has been postponed for May and Gary is hoping to be "fighting fit" by July when he plans to reorganise the event for.  We will of course keep you updated.  In the meantime please continue to support Gary, he couldn't do it without you.

The main beneficiary will once again be The Christie, Gary is also running to aid Hindley dad James Smith's trip to America for treatment for a debilitating brain condition and completing the marathon in memory of two friends: the former boxer Ryan Cummings from Scholes, who tragically hanged himself last year, and six-year-old Neil Turner, also from Scholes, who died several years ago in a tragic accident.

Gary, who is in remission from Prostate Cancer, previously hauled a double bed from St Albans to Wigan for charity, said: "It will be another tough day's work, but I have got plenty to motivate me. I am running 100 miles a week and also weight training every evening, please support me however you can. I thank you with all my heart for your kindness and generosity."