Mayor to walk from Hull Royal Infirmary back to Driffield

Driffield mayor Cllr Mark Blakeston will be embarking on his September fundraising event when he will walk from Hull Royal Infirmary back to Driffield to raise awareness and funds for Brain Tumour Research.

Mark will be accompanied on the walk by his friend and fellow Wold Rangers Way trustee Barrie Kitching

The pair will take on the 36-mile challenge on Friday 23rd September, in aid of a charity which is close to both their hearts.

Over the past few years, Mark has taken part in various challenges to raise money for Brain Tumour Research in memory of his dad and his uncle who both passed away after suffering from a brain tumour.

Meanwhile, Barrie, who is no stranger to challenges or fundraising, having raised more than £35,000 in aid of various local causes over many years, completed one of his first marathons in aid of Brain Tumour Research after his late mum was diagnosed with a brain tumour when she was 56 years old.

Fortunately, Barrie’s mum survived and lived until the age of 89.

To coincide with Brain Tumour Research’s Walk of Hope, the pair will set off from Hull Royal Infirmary where their relatives were cared for in the neuro oncology ward.

They will follow several trails back to Driffield including the Trans Pennine Way, Yorkshire Wolds Way, Minster Way, Beverley-20 and Hudson Way, as well as many green lanes and public footpaths.

Mark told the Wolds Weekly: “When I became mayor, I said I would complete a series of sponsored walks for charity and this month I am raising money for a charity close to my heart – Brain Tumour Research.

“I lost my dad when I was 25 to a high-grade brain tumour and, in 2018, I lost my uncle to the same form of brain tumour.

“When I was walking with Barrie last year when we launched the Wold Rangers Way, I discovered his mum had also been treated for a brain tumour and was on the same ward as my dad at Hull Royal Infirmary.

“Last year, we both walked the Wold Rangers Way for Brain Tumour Research and this year we decided to walk from the hospital which treated our relatives and walk back to Driffield.

“It is a really interesting route stitching together parts of different trails, as well as several green lanes and public footpaths.

“We are looking forward to the walk and hope we can raise funds and awareness for Brain Tumour Research.

“Brain tumours kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer, yet historically just one per cent of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to this devastating disease.
“Any support people can offer in these challenging times would be greatly appreciated.”

If you can support Mark and Barrie in their fundraising, please visit their charity page at totalgiving.co.uk/mypage/hritodriffield.