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Search forBeefy steps out for charity
Saturday, October 11, 2008, 10:00
Sir Ian started the Leukaemia Research fundraising walk in Taunton, Somerset, which was where he also first became aware of childhood leukaemia 25 years ago during a visit to Musgrove Park Hospital. It was then that he vowed to help beat the cancer.
Beefy's Great British Walk -– Against Childhood Leukaemia will take in nine towns across the UK and ends in Durham on October 18.
This is Sir Ian's 12th charity walk and for the first time, members of the public could join him yesterday on a four-mile stretch of the walk from Somerset County Cricket Club, following the banks of the River Tone and along Bridgwater and Taunton Canal.
Starting the walk in Taunton, Sir Ian said he was "feeling great" and thanked the public for their "magnificent response" to the fundraising attempt.
He said the same crew had been doing the walks with him since he started in 1985 and, although they were all getting a bit older, he said: "Why would I stop? I will keep going until a cure is found."
About 200 people were expected to join the walk later in the afternoon.
Among those taking part yesterday were Chris and Letitia Old. Mr Old, 59, was a regular member of the England cricket team for 10 years, joining Sir Ian many times, notably in the "Botham Series" of Tests in 1981. The Olds now live near Penzance.
They said they had decided to take part not only because of Mr Old's friendship with Sir Ian but because Mrs Old's father died of a form of leukaemia 40 years ago, and a cure had still not been found for the disease which killed him.
Mrs Old, 61, said they hoped to complete the walk without too much difficulty: "We're both reasonably fit and spend most of our days out and about. I've been training by walking up and down the beach."
They had not yet counted up how much money they had raised and intended to keep fundraising until the end of Sir Ian's walk.
Karen Reader, Hannah Lee and Karen Friskey, who all work in the Exeter branch of Marks and Spencer, were also taking part in yesterday's leg. They said they thought their branch had raised about £2,000 for Leukaemia Research by sponsoring the walk and through other related events.
For more information about the walk and to donate to Leukaemia Research, visit www.bothamwalk.com
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Sir Ian Botham in Taunton, setting off on another fundraising expedition
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