Heart foundation honour for £150,000 fundraisers

THREE best friends from Rochdale have been honoured by the British Heart Foundation as ‘Fundraisers of the Year’ for raising more than £150,000 in memory of their lifelong friend who died from a heart attack.

- 

David Kennedy, Tim Knight, Tim Fairley at Lake Garda

The men, who grew up together in Littleborough and still live in the town, had shared decades of friendship with Simon ‘Teddy’ Taylor, regularly playing golf, cycling and holidaying together with their partners.

Simon died suddenly at the age of age of 56 in 2023 after suffering a heart attack at home.

His wife Lisa and a passing off-duty policeman tried to resuscitate him through CPR, but sadly he passed away leaving Lisa and their young son.

Tim Knight, Tim Fairley and David Kennedy, all aged 58, cycled from Hollingworth Lake near their homes to Lake Garda in Italy, in May 2024.

They then organised a charity ball for 250 guests. The trio raised more than £150,000 which — was divided equally between the British Heart Foundation and their local Springhill Hospice. They received their award from Made In Chelsea star, Ollie Proudlock and adventurer, Elliot Awin at a star-studded ceremony in London, hosted by Radio Two's Vernon Kay, a British Heart Foundation Ambassador, who returned for the sixth time.