Members of staff at The Wetherby Whaler restaurant and takeaway in Pudsey have raised more than £2,500 for Macmillan Cancer Support. 

David Thompson, 28, who is one of the fryers and Matthew Popple, 20, a waiter, were joined by Stephen Mahoney, 21, who previously worked at The Wetherby Whaler, for a mammoth sponsored cycle along the route of the Leeds/Liverpool Canal, covering 127 miles in 24 hours. 

Colleagues also made generous donations to support the fundraising and it is hoped that the final total will exceed £3,000.

The Wetherby Whaler is an iconic brand throughout West Yorkshire, and stands out as a symbol of the success of fish and chips in the area. Bought by its current owners, Philip and Janine Murphy, in 1989, the Wetherby Whaler is now run with the help of a second generation, their daughters, Joanne and Caroline. 

Janine Murphy, Co-owner of The Wetherby Whaler, said: “Everyone at The Wetherby Whaler in Pudsey supported the trio in their fundraising for Macmillan Cancer Support.  We are really proud of David, Matthew and Stephen’s efforts for such a worthy cause.”

Matthew Popple said: “We wanted to do something special for Macmillan Cancer Support as it does fantastic work throughout the country. The bike ride was a real challenge for the three of us as none of us are experienced cyclists and we all felt very still and saddle sore for a few days! 

“We’d like to thank the staff at The Wetherby Whaler in Pudsey, and everyone else who sponsored us for their support.  We’re now discussing the next challenge!”