We’ve had plenty of news to bring you from Preston over the past week.

In a week where Covid cases are beginning to rise (but hospitalisations are not!) there’s been plenty of news – and most of it isn’t coronavirus related, thankfully.

Here are five of the stories you may have missed this week.

Stonebridge Surgery raises more than £7,000 for hospice in memory of colleague Anne

A determined team of doctors, nurses, admin and reception staff completed a gruelling 100km challenge in memory of their ‘dear friend’ and colleague, raising more than £7,000 for the charity which cared for her at the end of her life.

Anne Astwick, 57, was cared for by St Catherine’s Hospice after she was diagnosed with breast cancer in March last year. The mum-of-two spent her final days on the Lostock Hall hospice’s inpatient unit earlier this year.

Her colleagues at Stonebridge Surgery in Longridge decided to take on a sponsored feat in fitness-loving Anne’s honour, whilst raising vital funds for St Catherine’s.

Read the full story here.

Preston youth club founder and team cycle 300 miles fundraising for cancer patient

The squad of four cycled 300 miles in five days, starting at Smart Fit Gym in Preston and travelling to London, in efforts to raise money for long-term cancer patient Kim Fletcher.

Weather wasn’t on their side for the five day expedition, as the team endured heavy down falls of rain, strong winds and even hailstone as they proceeded on their pursuit to raise as much money for Kim as possible.

Read the full story here.

McDonalds organising litter pick events around their Preston and South Ribble restaurants

There will be a litter picking event taking place throughout Preston and Lancashire next month.

McDonald’s will be hosting the local litter picks on Tuesday 8 Jume from 9am as part of the companies commitment to cleaning local areas and reducing litter.

Teams will be cleaning the local area on a route of 47 miles across all McDonald’s restaurants in Lancashire.

This huge clean up event will happen in addition to the daily litter patrols carried out every day in the area around the restaurant.

Read the full story here.

Penwortham Girls’ High School win award for bringing ‘the world into the classroom’ 

Penwortham Girls High School in Preston has been awarded Foundation level of the British Council’s prestigious International School Award in recognition of its work to bring the world into the classroom. 

The International School Award celebrates the achievements of schools that do exceptional work in international education. Fostering an international dimension in the curriculum is at the heart of the British Council’s work with schools, so that young people gain the cultural understanding and skills they need for life and work in today’s world. 

Read the full story here.

Preston sports coach walking Yorkshire Three Peaks in memory of much-loved family friend 

Preston sports coach Tom Hulme, whose ambition is to collect a “World’s Strongest Man” title in the next five years, is packing all his strength into a fundraising challenge for Rosemere Cancer Foundation.

Tom, 20, who works as a strength coach at Ashton’s Fitcess Gym, is to walk the Yorkshire Three Peaks in August and his online donation page has already raised £1,898 for the charity.

If he surpasses £2,000, which is double the target donation Tom set himself to raise, he will double the challenge, meaning he will turn around and walk the whole route again hopefully in under 24 hours.

Read the full story here.