With just a few days to go, Beefy is asking you to sign up and join him on the walk to raise money for blood cancer charity Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research.
An eight-year-old local hero from Gateshead, Ben Charlton, says he can’t wait to join Beefy and will be bringing his friends along to share this special day with him. Ben is one of 14 local heroes – children currently receiving treatment for leukaemia or in remission from the disease. Each hero will join Beefy in each of the 10 towns he is visiting on his walk.
Ben was just six-years old when he was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, just one week after he lost his grandfather to cancer. Ben had been complaining of a poorly stomach before bedtime and in the morning before school. Mum Lynn initially thought he was just ‘playing up’ but when his symptoms persisted she took him to see their local GP, who quickly spotted his symptoms were linked to leukaemia.
Ben says: “Sometimes the medicines made me feel really unwell and when my hair fell out I was a little embarrassed because nearly everyone in the world has hair! Now I’m eight and although my treatment doesn’t finish until March next year, I’m doing really well.”
In 1985 only 20% of children survived the most common form of childhood leukaemia, now more than 90% survive this disease. But there are still children and teenagers losing their battle.
To date, Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research have invested just over £3million in life-saving research in Newcastle, including research using state-of-the-art techniques to uncover new genes linked to leukaemia to improve and guide treatments for children and teenagers.
Sir Ian, who is President of Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research, says: “I need people to sign up and join me on the walk and help ensure that every child diagnosed with blood cancers including leukaemia and lymphoma survives. I won’t stop until we beat childhood blood cancer, but I can’t do it without you.”
If you would like to sponsor Ben, visit his justgiving page justgiving.com/ben-charlton-8
To help Beefy help children with blood cancer, visit his justgiving page justgiving.com/beefywalk2012
If you would like to join Sir Ian on one of his walks please phone 020 7504 2282 or email LHolmes@beatingbloodcancers.org.uk or visit beatingbloodcancers.org.uk/beefywalk2012