|  |  |  | | | | BEEFY WALKS IN 2008 TO BEAT CHILDHOOD LEUKAEMIA | | | | |
| |  Beefy's Great British Walk logo
Release Date: 8 May 2008
Sir Ian Botham today announces that he is dusting down his trainers and setting off in October 2008 on another legendary fundraising walk. For the first time members of the public will be able to join Beefy as he walks to help blood cancer charity Leukaemia Research beat childhood leukaemia.
'Beefy's Great British Walk - Against Childhood Leukaemia’ will take in nine towns across the UK from 10-18 October. This will be Beefy’s 12th charity walk and it will kick off in Taunton where he started his cricket career. Taunton is also the location of the hospital where he first met youngsters with leukaemia who inspired him to start his fundraising walks.
Sir Ian, President of Leukaemia Research, says: “In 1985, when I first started walking to raise funds for Leukaemia Research, the survival rate for children with leukaemia was 20 percent now the survival rate is 80 percent. Join me on my 2008 walk and together we will help beat this terrible disease. I am determined to see all children survive in my lifetime.”
You can hear Sir Ian talking about his Great British Walk on the Daily Mirror website here.
Following Taunton, Sir Ian will take in Windsor, Tunbridge Wells, Bury St Edmunds, Stratford-Upon-Avon, Llandudno, Harrogate, Milngavie (nr Glasgow). The 2008 Walk finishes in Durham, where he ended his professional cricket career. This is the first time a limited number of people can walk with Beefy in exchange for sponsorship.
Sir Ian says: “I need people to sign up now and make this my best walk ever.” Places on each stage of the walk will fill up quickly. If you would like to join Sir Ian on one of his walks please contact Botham Walk Manager Georgina Fitt on 020 7269 9003 or email gfitt@lrf.org.uk or visit www.bothamwalk.com.
Sir Ian’s route will take in :
10 Oct - Taunton – where he started his cricket career and also the location of the hospital where he met teens with leukaemia
11 Oct - Windsor
12 Oct - Tunbridge Wells
13 Oct - Bury St Edmunds
14 Oct – Stratford-Upon-Avon
15 Oct - Llandudno
16 Oct - Harrogate
17 Oct - Milngavie (nr Glasgow)
18 Oct - Durham - where he ended his professional cricket career
Marks & Spencer is sponsoring the event and will be providing food and clothing throughout the walk. Guoman Hotels/Thistle are giving Ian and his team accommodation en route. VW Touareg is providing branded support vehicles during the walk.
For further information contact Sally Clark at the Leukaemia Research press office on 020 7269 9068, press mobile 07795 516921 or email sclark@lrf.org.uk
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