Real-life Call the Midwife team to take on Furness cycle challenge

Midwives from Furness General Hospital have taken inspiration from the racing baby deliverers from the BBC show and will hop on two wheels for the Tour de Furness next month.

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The team from the Barrow maternity unit have signed up to the annual mass participation event, which is taking place on Sunday September 11, under the name, Call the Midwife.

The bikes and uniforms the team use won't, however, be like the 1950s gear from the series, with the team instead swapping their NHS uniforms for hi-tech, hi-vis cycling shorts, jerseys and gloves.

The team are raising money for the Morecambe Bay Hospital Charity to help make the birth experience at FGH extra special for local women, with a new maternity unit due to open by December 2017. They have set themselves a target of £5,000.

Sascha Wells, director of midwifery at UHMBT, at the 'Call the Midwife' launch. PHOTO: LEANNE BOLGER Sascha Wells, director of midwifery at University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust, said: "I'm calling on all local women who've given birth at FGH along with your partners, families and friends to help raise as much money as we can to help buy those little extras for your new maternity unit.

"It's through the generosity of the good people of Barrow and beyond that enables Morecambe Bay Hospitals Charity to enhance and support your local hospital."

To donate money to Furness General Hospital's Call the Midwife team, click here .

The Tour de Furness offers cyclists four different routes, ranging from five miles to 50 miles, but organisers stress the event is not a race and is open to everyone.

More than 600 fundraisers take part in the annual event, which starts from the Roose Conservative Club in Rampside Road, Barrow.

Dave Salt, committee chair of Tour de Furness, said: "The charity cycle event is organised by the Rotary Club of Furness to raise money for St Mary’s Hospice and other local charities.

"We've been running the event for 21 years now and have raised well over £400,000 for a huge number of local charities, all nominated by the riders taking part so we were only too happy to support Morecambe Bay Hospitals Charity's Call the Midwife team when they approached us.

"The Tour de Furness is a great way for individual cyclists or teams to raise funds for their chosen charities and what better charity than one which supports your local hospital's maternity unit."

How to sign up

Riders during the Tour de Furness 2015 in Rampside Road. Anyone over the age of 10, of average fitness and with a bike in roadworthy condition, can enter the 13, 25 and 50 mile routes.

The entrance fee for adults is £10. Under-16s go for free but must be accompanied by an adult, while over-65s can take part for £5.

To register and for sponsor forms, visit here .

Registration forms are also available at Topmark Cycles in Greengate Street, Barrow.

The address for paper entries is Topmark Cycles, 108 Greengate Street, Barrow, LA14 1BG.

All entries must be received by the last Saturday in August.

Anyone who would like to join the 'Call the Midwife' team, contact Heidi Bowron on 01229 404473 or email: heidi.bowron@mbht.nhs.uk

Tour de Furness in numbers

- First edition in 1996

- Four different routes

- 20th anniversary celebration in 2015

- Youngest rider to take part in the 50 mile route in 2015 was just 11

- 630 participants signed up in 2015

- More than 35 charities helped

Benefits of cycling

Cycling is one of the easiest ways to fit exercise into a daily routine and is easier on joints than running or other high-impact aerobic activities.

Cycling may also help reduce the risk of many chronic conditions including coronary heart disease, Type Two diabetes, cancer, obesity, stroke and muscular skeletal conditions.

Visit the GoActive website for more on local sports and events