Twelve community pubs are joining forces across Greater Manchester, as part of a charity event to raise £18,000 for emergency community defibrillators.

The event, dubbed Superhero Saturday, will see cyclists come together to cycle 56 km, using each pub as a checkpoint on the route, and those taking part are being encouraged to dress up as their favourite superheroes for the ride.

Launched by Mark Knibbs, Business Development Manager for Proper Pubs, the Operator Managed platform of Hawthorn, The Community Pub Company, the initiative will kickstart fundraising for the defibrillators, which cost £1,500 each and will be available to local communities in the case of a life-threatening emergency.

Mark, along with three members of the Hawthorn team including, Nick Davies, Proper Pubs Project Manager, and Tony Beswick, Proper Pub Operator of the Bear on the Hill pub, along with anyone else looking to support the fundraising, will follow a set route consisting of 12 Proper Pubs stops. The full list of pubs taking part in the event are:

• Horse & Jockey, Heywood
• Bear on the Hill, Oldham
• Town Hall Tavern, Oldham
• Bricklayers Arms, Failsworth
• Daisyfield, Bardsley
• Old Ball Inn, Smallshaw
• New Inn, Ashton Under Lyne
• Commercial, Dukinfield
• Owd Joss, Hyde
• Lord Nelson, Gorton
• Thatched Tavern, Stockport
• Queens, Bredbury

On conclusion of the route at the Queens in Bredbury, participants and locals alike will be able to enjoy a number of activities running throughout the evening including raffles, tombolas, an auction, pool and darts tournaments and a live performance from a local band.

Mark Knibbs, Business Development Manager for Proper Pubs, said: “I’ve been really moved by stories of people who have lost loved ones when a defibrillator could have saved a life. Many pubs are the beating heart of their local community so our aim is to raise funds and purchase this equipment for as many of our pubs as we can.

"It is so important that our Proper Pubs Operators are heroes within their communities, and it’s fantastic to see these pubs come together to support us in raising the funds they need to be able to purchase these vital pieces of lifesaving equipment.”

Matthew Gurney, Operations Director of Proper Pubs, said: “This is a fantastic display of exactly what it means to be a true Proper Pub. Huge thanks to Mark for setting up this event and demonstrating a true sense of community, and another huge thank you to each and every Proper Pub involved for doing whatever they can to support this superb initiative.”

Proper Pubs owns more than 130 local, community pubs across England, Scotland and Wales. To find out more, or to donate, visit https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/mark-knibbs-1?utm_term=J6gDx7XpR