TWO golfing pals who had life-saving heart surgery within a day of each other have celebrated their new lease of life by completing a 56-mile charity bike ride.

Prestwich Golf Club members Steve Howarth (42) and Rob Curran (53) knew each other only to say "hello" before they discovered they were to go into hospital for the same life-saving operation last November.

On Sunday (June 16), both took part in a gruelling cycle from Manchester to Blackpool even though their doctors had reservations!

Father-of-two Steve, who lives off Sheepfoot Lane in Prestwich, had been on medication and involved in medical trials for high cholesterol since the age of 13 when his father died of a heart attack in 1972.

However, he only realised he was an angina sufferer last August after a mountain biking trip with his family resulted in a frightening angina attack.

He was told he needed a triple by-pass operation which involves three veins or arteries from elsewhere in the body being transplanted to replace the heart's damaged arteries and was booked in to Wythenshawe Hospital on November 26.

Rob, who lives in Shaw, Oldham was also diagnosed with angina in August after an unexpected attack and had a quadruple by-pass at the Alexandra Hospital, Cheadle, on November 25.

He said: "I knew Steve was already booked in for an operation so when I learned of my operation I approached him. We kept in close contact but it was sheer coincidence that they were within a day of each other.

"We were both discharged within a week and the following weekend we were enjoying a pint at the club, which we had promised ourselves. It was another three months before we could play golf again though!"

Steve said: "It was ironic how things worked out. As I went in to hospital I heard that Rob had come out of the operating theatre safe and well and it was a real boost to know that he had got through it okay."

It was Steve's idea to tackle the 56-mile ride in aid of the British Heart Foundation and they raised around £1,500.

Rob, who also has two children and works for a civil engineering firm in Kearsley, said he and Steve want people to learn from their experience.

"I would definitely advise anyone who needed the operation to go ahead and have it done. Although it was big shock at first it is not the end of the world. In fact it has been the beginning for me, I feel better than I ever have. I can't believe that six months later I was doing the cycle ride," said Rob.

He added: "Our doctors did have reservations about the ride, but said know your limitations, and just go for it!"

Steve and Rob paid tribute to their wives, Janine and Joyce, for their support, and they thanked their colleagues and the golf club in Hilton Lane for helping raise sponsorship.

Steve added: "We had a great day on Sunday and although it was difficult we did it together. I hope we can be an inspiration to others who might be in a similar position."