Cycling club founder, dies age 73

Louis Blank (centre) with David Geldard, David Hall, Danny Griffiths, Councillor Gregory Couzens and Councillor Ann Metcalfe

The founder of a well known cycling club has sadly passed away aged 73.

Louis Blank, from the Rochdale Special Needs Cycling Club was battling liver cancer and died at his home on 30 October.

A statement on the cycling club’s website reads: “Our founder Mr Louis Blank sadly passed away on the 30 October at his home after a fighting a long battle with liver cancer.

“The year was a sad one for Louis as earlier this year in march his wife of 50 yrs, Sylvia passed away.

“It is with great thanks to Louis and his supportive Family that this club is the success it is today and we dedicate this homepage to his efforts.

“We hope to continue what Louis boldly started with an equal success and look forward to an equal amount of support from the borough of Rochdale and all those who knew Louis and the club.”

Mr Blank set up the Rochdale Special Needs Cycling Club in 1998. At the time he was a member of the Trans Pennine Cycling Club and he rode with them every Sunday.

Mr Blank noticed a youth who came to wave the riders off, and watch enviously as they rode away. Mr Blank asked him if he would like to join the rides but the youth replied that he didn’t have a bike. Mr Blank took pity on him and bought him a bicycle.

A couple of weeks later the boy returned with a friend who didn’t have a bike. Mr Blank realised that in this very deprived neighbourhood there must be many such children so Mr Blank formed a cycling club for underprivileged children who didn’t own or have access to a bicycle.

Within a few months the club had over twenty bikes and members queuing up to join.

The club then received enquiries to see if they could take out blind children and with charitable donations, bought two tandems to cater for them. As the years passed more and more children joined and enquiries started coming in to see if the club could cater for children with other disabilities.

The club has continued to expand and now has many active members who hope to carry on the work that Mr Blank started.

Mr Blank’s funeral will be held at Whitworth Cemetery at 10am on the 13 November 2010.