Bike & Go offers free bike hire to new subscribers during Bike Week

BIKE hire scheme Bike & Go is encouraging people to try out cycling during this month's Bike Week by offering free rentals to new subscribers. The scheme, which has bike hire facilities on offer at 21 Train Stations across the Merseyrail network, including:- Formby, Ainsdale and Southport; will make bike rental free during Bike Week to all those who register between 9 June  to 17  June 2018.

The team hope that by waiving the usual rental fee of ₤3.80 per 24 hours, more would be cyclists will be tempted to jump on a bike. Cycling UK's Bike Week aims to promote cycling for everyone by highlighting the social, health and environmental benefits of cycling.

Research shows that keeping physically active can reduce the risk of heart and circulatory disease by as much as 35% and risk of early death by as much as 30%.

It is a message that Bike & Go director, David O'Leary, is also continuously trying to share with those who don't cycle. He said:- "Bike Week plays an important role in encouraging more people to get on a bike, and we're delighted to support it by offering our own free bike hire. Cycling is extremely good for both mental and physical wellbeing, beneficial to the environment, and a fun way to spend a day with family and friends. We're looking forward to seeing as many new subscribers as possible taking up our offer, so that more people can enjoy the benefits of cycling."

Bike & Go offers bike hire facilities from 21 participating Train Stations across the Merseyrail network, including:- Liverpool Central, Moorfields, Aigburth, New Brighton, Ormskirk and Maghull, in addition to a further 49 participating Train Stations across much of the North West, North East and Yorkshire, East and South East of England, and Scotland.

In 2016 the scheme was praised by a UK division of the travel giant TripAdvisor when it was included in a list of the top 7 bicycle hire companies drawn up by its subsidiary rental company Holiday Lettings.

To hire a Bike & Go bike, users simply need to register their card details online, which they can do via smart phones, tablets, or at home, and pay the annual ₤10 subscription fee. They will then receive a user number via email which will allow immediate bike hire; usually charged at just ₤3.80 per 24 hours up to a maximum of 72 hours; while they wait for their Bike & Go membership card.

Guinness World Record broken at the Halliwell Jones Stadium

A Gunness World Record was broken at the Halliwell Jones Stadium in Warrington. North West Boroughs Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, State of Mind Sport, Offload Rugby League and Warrington Wolves joined forces to break the record and raise awareness of mental health, on Wednesday, 6 June 2018, by hosting the world's largest mental health awareness lesson.

The 4 organisations now officially hold the new world record, with a total of 857 people turning up to support the challenge. The previous world record was 688 people and was achieved in Chennai in India earlier this year.

The mental health lesson was led by Dr Phil Cooper (MBE), a nurse consultant from North West Boroughs Healthcare, along with a variety of former and current rugby league players.

During the lesson, Dr Phil Cooper asked a series of thought provoking questions relating to mental health, encouraging participants to lift up either a 'yes' or 'no' card with their response. In between these sessions, ambassadors from State of Mind Sport shared their personal mental health experiences and practical tips on how to manage mental fitness, with the evening drawing to a close, at 7pm.

Dr Cooper said:- "What a fantastic night! The weather was brilliant, and the former players spoke from the heart about their own mental health and overcoming their problems. Sharing real life experiences to raise awareness of mental health was really powerful and brought the lesson to life. I feel proud to work for North West Boroughs Healthcare and State of Mind Sport, and to have the opportunity to use rugby league to reach people, raise awareness of mental health and help save lives."

Karl Fitzpatrick, CEO at Warrington Wolves, said:- "We are proud and honoured to have been part of such a ground-breaking achievement. To have broken a world record here at The Halliwell Jones Stadium means a lot to this club especially with it raising awareness of such an important cause. It was fantastic to see so many people from across the Town gathering to show their support and take such an interest in learning more about mental fitness."

Emma Goldsmith from Rugby League Cares, who co-ordinates the Offload programme running from Warrington Wolves, Widnes Vikings and Salford Red Devils said:- "It was great night and brilliant to break a world record while helping people learn more about mental health issues in a fun session, in a great location."