Beefy's Great British Walk in Taunton
| Published: 10th October 2008 17:30 |
Sir Ian Botham begins Leukaemia charity walk
For the first time members of the public are able to join "Beefy" as he walks to help blood cancer charity Leukaemia Research beat childhood leukaemia.
Sir Ian set off from Taunton Marks & Spencer, with fans in tow today (Friday 10th October 2008)
Members of the public will continue with the cricket star on a four-mile walk along the banks of the River Tone and along Bridgwater and Taunton Canal.
Taunton is where, 25 years ago, Beefy met youngsters with leukaemia who inspired him to start his fundraising walks.
Speaking from the town, Sir Ian, president of Leukaemia Research, said: "We're visiting Musgrove Park Hospital in Taunton later - and that's where in 1977 I first saw the children dying."
That's why beefy Ian who have been involved with the charity since 1977, and have been doing the walks since 1985.
Sir Ian said research into childhood Leukaemia had come on leaps and bounds since he first started the walks in 1985.
"In 1985, 20 per cent of children survived - now it's 87 per cent so that speaks for itself.
"I want to keep the walks going, they're a challenge and I'm a competitive person - and this keeps me competitive."
After Taunton, Sir Ian will take in Windsor, Tunbridge Wells, Bury St Edmunds, Stratford-Upon-Avon, Llandudno, Harrogate and Milngavie near Glasgow and finishes in Durham, where he ended his professional cricket career.
It's the first time a limited number of local people can walk with Beefy in exchange for sponsorship.
Beefy's Great British Walk - Against Childhood Leukaemia is a 52-mile (83km) trek through nine towns across the UK.
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