Skelmersdale Couple’s Race Across India in a “Lawnmower”

A tenacious Skelmersdale woman named Shirley Norris and her husband Mike, are set to embark on a unique 3,500km journey across India from the south to the north in a Rickshaw – also described as a “glorified lawnmower”!

After recovering from several serious health issues, including a bladder cancer diagnosis in 2016, eventually requiring a urostomy bag, Shirley and her husband took a holiday to Riga and suffered an unpleasant experience at Manchester Airport when Shirley was subjected to an invasive body search that left her in tears. A similar situation later led to her involvement with ‘Fight Bladder Cancer’, a charity that supported her and others experiencing similar problems. Shirley’s mission is to raise awareness of the condition and help people to avoid similar ordeals. 

Later, Shirley and Mike spent six months in India where they discovered an organisation called the Adventurists who organise something called the ‘Rickshaw Run’. Having been given a second chance at life, the couple signed up in what Shirley calls “a moment of madness”, which saw the couple journey from the north of India all the way down to Kochi in the south, proving that “Even with a bag, you can pretty much do what you want.”

Following further serious medical issues more recently, the adventurous couple has decided to sign up again for another demanding Rickshaw Run, this time from the South of India to the North, to raise £3000 for Birchwood after becoming more involved with the organisation during the Covid pandemic. 

Birchwood’s Ian Whelan said, “What they are doing embodies the spirit of Birchwood! Getting out there and their attitude to life; it’s truly inspiring”

Shirley says it’s like they are “celebrating life again”, adding: “You’ve got to feel like you’re living, rather than merely existing.”

If you would like to support Mike and Shirley by donating to their GoFundMe page, you can do so by visiting: https://www.gofundme.com/f/winnies-wheels-for-the-birchwood-centre