THURSDAY, 27th JANUARY, 2011.

Costa dream crumbles

Three wheelie bins roll in Readers'ViewsPages23-26 Page 56

Page 14

What’s on... What’s gone...

Pages 20-22

Farmers' win power plan

Page 28

Cancer-beating dad to conquer Machu Picchu

Colourful outlook is forecast for summer invasion of bears

By Tom Byrne A record-breaking former cancer sufferer has set himself a mountainous task to raise money for the hospital that saved his life.

Emmanuel Iyoha, (50), of Highcroft Avenue, Congleton, is hoping to raise £5,000 for The Christie cancer hospital by trekking to Machu Picchu in Peru. He’ll be trekking for 10 days, eight to 10 hours a day, on a gruelling route over 10,000 feet high.

It will be a busy 2011 for Mr Iyoha, who has also signed up for May’s 10k BUPA Manchester Run and a 60-mile Manchester to Blackpool bike ride in July.

The father-of-three is certainly no stranger to fundraising, having hauled in over £20,000 in the last 15 years through charity treks, runs, bike rides and volunteering.

The IT worker made the headlines two years ago when his daughter Ella was born from sperm frozen 19 years earlier, a British record. He told the “Chronicle” that his children made the fund-raising even more worthwhile.

Mr Iyoha revealed that he would keep fund-raising for as many years as he could to say thank you to “the wonderful people at Christie’s”.

He said: “I was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma when I was 26 or 27. That was in 1989. After being treated at Christie’s the doctor found more cells in 1995 but by 1996 I was given the all clear. As soon as I was strong enough, I started fund-raising and helping out in charity shops and things like that.

“I just wanted to do what I

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www.congletonglass.co.uk Email: congletonglass@btconnect.com could. Since then I have tried to raise as much money as I can as my little way of saying thank you. What stands out is the generosity of people who want to help and donate money. It’s fantastic.”

He sets out on the Peruvian expedition on 14th October and is paying £950 for the cost of the trip. All money raised will go to charity.

Machu Picchu is the site of the sacred ruins of an Inca city in Peru, known as “the lost city of the Incas”. It is one of the seven wonders of the modern world.

The former Stockport resident, who moved to Congleton last year, has no plans to give up his charity adventures once his Peruvian challenge is met, saying: “I’ll keep doing it as long as I can. For as long as my body holds up, I’ll keep going. Once you’ve bitten the bug you can’t stop.” • —Turn to back page.

Gettin’ jiggy with it: artist Sue Holmes has a brush with Jiggybear - one of the 75 bears due to take up residence in Congleton this summer. The bear, the first of the Bearmania statues to be completed, was revealed at a special launch event on Tuesday. For more information and pictures turn to page 29. (“Chronicle” photo. 422b/11).

Royal Mail delivers a letter from the grave

Complaints about late Royal Mail Christmas deliveries have continued to arrive at the “Chronicle” this week.

One was from a grieving Mossley woman who received a letter from her mother — three weeks after she had died.

Elizabeth Gowling received the letter on Thursday morning, 29 days after it was posted from her mother’s Cumbria home with a second-class stamp.

Mr Gowling said he had complained to Royal Mail and contacted MP Fiona Bruce.

The Congleton MP said she was yet to receive a reply from Royal Mail managing director Mark Higson since writing to him on 7th January.

Mrs Bruce said: “Presumably his responses are delayed in the post. As I have not heard back, I will be asking a Minister to intervene in this situation to help solve it.”

Shortly after posting the letter on 23rd December, Gladys Tyson was admitted to hospital and died on New Year’s Day.

The Gowlings had received a number of late Christmas cards, but were shocked when they opened their mail in the third week of January to find a letter from Mrs Tyson, 20 days after she died.

Mrs Gowling’s husband Richard said it was “very upsetting” and added: “It shows up what trouble this whole situation of late deliveries has been causing to people. Royal Mail reall needs sortin out.”

Late cards As previously reported in the “Chronicle”, many Congleton residents have received late Christmas cards and gifts, leading to some missing hospital appointments and bill deadlines.

Royal Mail has apologised for the delays, saying the harsh winter weather and large amount of mail had caused the backlog. Last Sunday, it introduced one off deliveries in some of the worst hit areas, including Congleton and claims the service has now returned to normal.

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