PROJECT manager Rob Massey is taking on a 100-mile cycling challenge to support a foundation inspired by Manchester Arena bomb victim Nell Jones.

Rob, 48, from Chelford, will be taking part in the Manchester 100, which will take cyclists through beautiful country lanes, taking in Delamere Forest and Beeston Castle.

The event starts and finishes at Wythenshawe Park, and Rob is raising money for the Remembering Nell Foundation.

Nell, 14, from Goostrey, was a student at Holmes Chapel Comprehensive School, and was one of 22 people who died in the bomb attack in May 2017.

Rob’s 14-year-old son Jonny attends Holmes Chapel Comprehensive, and this will be the second time Rob will have raised money for the foundation.

He and a friend raised £1,500 at last year’s Cheshire Sportive, and Rob made his debut in the Manchester 100 seven years ago with colleagues from a previous company he worked for.

Rob is a project manager for Telefonica UK, and has almost hit his £500 target for next month’s Manchester 100.

He has raised £465 through his online donations page,, a total which will be boosted by his firm, which has agreed to match fund the first £200 raised.

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He thanked everyone who has sponsored him, including his work colleagues, and is hoping to increase his total by the day of the cycling challenge.

Rob said: “After the tragic events at the Manchester Arena on May 22, 2017, and discovering that one of the victims went to my son's school, it is hard not to feel some level of loss when it is so close to your community.

“Despite such a huge loss, Nell's family have remained strong throughout this adversity and have worked incredibly hard to create a lasting memory to their daughter, by forming a foundation that supports so many local children's charities every year.

“I feel very proud to think I can make a small contribution to their efforts and to know every penny raised makes a difference to people's lives.”

To train for this year’s Manchester 100 Rob is going out on his bike three to four times a week, doing runs of between 20 and 60 miles to build up his stamina and speed.

“The distance is achievable, although it has been really windy, and I hope it drops on the day,” he said, adding that he aims to set off at 7am and finish by mid-afternoon.