A Bit Of Background

5 years ago a dear friend Derek Walton was taken from us by cancer. He left his amazing wife Caroline and his two incredible children Sam & Bekah behind. He made a big impact on our friendship group and is still missed by all his friends.

2 years ago 3 friends Andy Preston, Chris Hunt & Julian Hall were diagnosed with cancer. 2 of them have beaten it. The third, Julian, may not have the outcome he wants but it doesn’t stop him enjoying his life to the full.

Over a couple of drinks another friend proposed a walk for charity. Their wives have already successfully been raising money for Cancer Research UK by walking the Shine Marathon walks. Not to be out done the lads have decided that they are setting a fund raising target of £50,000 over 12 months. They will do this through various activities including a walk, a skydive and a charity dinner. 

On June 20th they walked 42 miles in just over 18 hours over challenging terrain from the north Yorks moors to Ravenscarr on the coast. This walk is known as The Lyke Wake Walk and is commonly walked over two or three days. See the short video here and the longer one here

On the 2nd October they will sky dive from 13000 feet. Yep…each volunteer is scared of this already!!

These three friends and their amazing friendship group want to raise money for these three amazing causes.

Bekah Walton

At just 25, Derby born athlete Bekah has represented Great Britain on multiple occasions in Javelin and is now a rising star in the athletics world. She is already British No 1, 3 times UK Champion and European Bronze medallist in her age group. She is placed 4th in the UK overall. UK Sport, the funding body for Olympic sports, does not fund Javelin. Bekah will need funding to continue to improve and reach her natural full potential. Bekah’s father Derek died from cancer 5 years ago. Because of the impact Derek Walton had on his friendship group this fund raising is particularly important to the guys involved. 

To support Bekah click here and go to Just Giving

Blood Cancer UK

Andy Preston benefited from the research Blood Cancer UK fund into this area and fought off Non Hodgkins Lymphoma last year.

Around 40,000 people are diagnosed with a blood cancer each year in the UK, and about 280,000 people are currently living with blood cancer. 

Over the last 60 years Blood Cancer UK have funded £500m of research. They now want to beat blood cancer in a generation. This influential charity was started in 1960 by the Eastwoods, whose daughter Susan died just weeks after being diagnosed with blood cancer. Susan’s parents wanted to stop others from having to go through what they had, so they started raising money to fund research into finding a cure.

In 1960, only one child in ten survived the type of leukaemia that took Susan’s life. Today, thanks to research, that figure is nine in ten.

They believe that if they continue funding research at the same pace as they have over the last 60 years, 30 years from now, everyone will survive blood cancer.

That has got to be worth supporting.

To support Blood Cancer UK click here and go to Just Giving

Macmillan Cancer Support

Julian wanted to raise money for this area because the way cancer diagnoses are rising more and more of us will need their support in the future. He may even end up using their palliative services at some point in the future as his diagnosis is terminal. 

They help everyone with cancer live life as fully as they can, by providing physical, financial and emotional support. They will do whatever it takes, no matter what a person’s needs are, they will listen and support people however they need it — big or small. 

Last year their services reached and supported an estimated 2.3 million people affected by cancer. 

Macmillan nurses, support workers and palliative care nurses reached approximately 730,000 people living with cancer.

Macmillan Support Line helped to identify millions in benefits through their advice provided £310 million through their local Welfare Rights Services.

To support Macmillan Cancer Support click here and go to Just Giving

PS for the detailed amongst us you will se there are only 11 friends in the picture. Derek Walton is there too, in our hearts.