Team of 15 to walk 72km to Blackpool for charity

The team from Trek72 are raising money for Springhill Hospice and Neil’s Appeal

Led by sprinkler fitter, Andrew Ormrod, 35, a team of 15 will be walking 72km to Blackpool on February 27, 2021 to raise money for Springhill Hospice and Neil’s Appeal, in a campaign called Trek72.

Neil’s Appeal was launched in 2017 by Neil Taylor and wife, Alex, to raise money for brain tumor research after Neil was diagnosed with brain cancer.

Andrew, a friend of Neil’s, said: “The importance of this is that we need more understanding and awareness, it’s not just the financial side of things.

Brain cancer research receives very little funding.

The money we’re raising we hope will help the surgeons so we can hopefully help people get better treatment and maybe cure it.”
 

Read more: Research is our only hope – young couple determined to help find a cure for brain tumoursPublished: 18 October 2018

The movement was partially inspired by charitable movements started by others, such as Marcus Rashford, during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Inspired by these charitable works, Andrew took part in a 1km naked run.

Taking part in the walk are Andrew’s brother, Anthony, who will be one of six support drivers, driving snacks and refreshments from checkpoint to checkpoint.

Andrew’s sister, Kerry, has been a co-organiser, while others include Karen Dean, a worker in a school kitchen and Leslie Lunt, who owns a business making personalised gifts.

There will also be emergency drivers on hand, in case of medical emergencies.

Andrew is a sprinkler fitter from Middleton whose grandma was cared for at Springhill Hospice 12 years ago.

The Trek72 team have a just giving page, where they have raised 56% of their £2,500 target: www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/blackpool-trek72