Purpleman is gearing up for his longest-ever stretch on his bike – and all for a very good cause.
He is planning to stay out all night as part of a 22-hour marathon on Stonegate in honour of the Manchester bomb victims.
Purpleman will get in position at 1.30pm on Tuesday (May 22) – the first anniversary of the bomb that devastated Manchester Arena – and stay there till 11.30am the following day.
He will be observing the national minute’s silence honouring the victims at 2.30pm on Tuesday.
Purpleman – who once lived in Manchester – said: “The message is simple – love is stronger than hate.
“I was in Manchester many years ago when the IRA bomb went off – I remember hearing it. The city is like my second home. I have been to the Manchester Arena.”
Message of hope
He said he knew some of the 22 victims of the bomb, including Marcin and Angelika Klis from York who died at the hands of the suicide bomber.
A visitor has also given him a Chloe And Liam wristband in honour of two other victims, Chloe Rutherford, 17, and Liam Curry, 19, from South Shields.
Purpleman will be collecting donations to buy flowers which he will take to the city, along with a book of messages of hope from the people of York.
This has already been signed by visitors from the US, New Zealand and Germany.
He said: “People are welcome at any time to write a message, say prayers and light candles – but are especially welcome at 2.30pm and 10.31pm, the time the bomb was detonated.
“And company during the night will be much appreciated.”
Purpleman will be tweeting throughout his 22-hour stint, via his Twitter feed @Purpleman1, using the hashtag #Manchester222222.