 |  |  | | | Parents to walk with Beefy in memory of daughter | | | | |
| |  Anthony and Janice Pinnegar with daughter Gemma
Release Date: 14 August 2008
Coventry residents Anthony and Janice Pinnegar will join cricketing legend Sir Ian Botham in Stratford-upon-Avon on 14 October in memory of their daughter Gemma.
Beefy's renowned fundraising walks for leading blood cancer charity Leukaemia Research are back in 2008.
When daughter Gemma died of leukaemia, Anthony and Janice set up the Gemma Pinnegar Forget Me Not Fund in her memory to raise funds towards research for blood cancers.
Gemma was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) in April 2005 when she was 19 years -old. After a stem cell transplant from her brother things were looking up.
Unfortunately Gemma relapsed later and from then on campaigned tirelessly in the media to raise awareness of the need for blood and stem cell transplant donors.
Having taken part in a trial for a new drug for people under 21, she realised there were very few teenage cancer units in hospitals. This trial was unsuccessful for Gemma and she died at the age of 21.
Anthony says: "We are doing this walk mainly for two reasons. One is to fulfil Gemma’s wish to raise money and help others and to support Beefy with all the fantastic work he does year after year.
"The other is to do what Gemma could not do in 2006 due to ill health, to meet Beefy. We were and still are inspired by Gemma and will do what we can in her memory".
Beefy responds: "The reasons for Anthony and Janice’s involvement are very moving and I really look forward to meeting them. I wish them well with their fundraising."
You can sponsor Anthony and Janice by going to their JustGiving page.
‘Beefy’s Great British Walk - Against Childhood Leukaemia’ is taking in nine UK cities from 10-18 October 2008 and for the first time members of the public will be able to join Sir Ian on part of his walk each day.
On 14 October, Sir Ian will start his walk outside event sponsor Marks & Spencer's store on Bridge Street, Stratford-upon-Avon.
He will walk to meet members of the public at Charlecote House where they will join him for a four-mile sponsored walk.
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."
This will be Beefy’s 12th charity walk, kicking off in Taunton on 10 October 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.
Following Taunton, Sir Ian will take in Windsor, Tunbridge Wells, Bury St Edmunds, Stratford-Upon-Avon, Llandudno, Harrogate and Milngavie (nr Glasgow). The 2008 Walk finishes in Durham on 18 October, where he ended his professional cricket career.
Sir Ian says: "I need people to sign up now and make this my best walk ever.
"Places on each stage of the walk are filling up quickly so if you would like to join me you can visit www.bothamwalk.com, call 020 7685 5133 or email bothamwalk@lrf.org.uk."
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