MORE people are putting their best foot forward this month in support of Teesdale Branch of Cancer Research UK.
Another five people have signed up to the charity’s 10,000 steps a day in March challenge doubling the chance of raising much needed cash to tackle the dreaded disease.
Maureen Bousfield, who brought smiles to children during the first Covid-19 lockdown last year by delivering Eater eggs while dressed in a chicken suit, is now walking during her lunchbreak while working from home.
She said: “Basically I am doing this for my own fitness with a chance to help this great cause.”
All of the cash raised by the Teesdale branch goes to Newcastle Cancer Research to benefit people living in the north by finding new ways of early detection of the disease and for finding new, kinder, treatments.
Also supporting the cause is Barnard Castle toy shop owner and veteran charity fundraiser Pauline Connelly.
She has previously completed a marathon swim for Macmillan Cancer Support and “braved the shave” , also for cancer charities, in honour of family and friends she has lost to cancer as well as some who have successfully beaten it.
She said: “We have done all sorts over the years for hockey and tennis and charities.
“I think we have to get it [cancer] beaten. They have come on in leaps and bounds and it is not always a death sentence now.”
She starts her daily walk at 6.45am when there are few people about and enjoys walking to Egglestone Abbey, up the town and around Startforth.
In Cotherstone, Teesdale branch member Brenda Thwaites is keeping people entertained by recording her progress through photographs she has been posting on Facebook.
On the third day of her challenge, she wrote: ” What was intended to be two-and-a-half miles finished as four-and-a-half miles after I unintentionally took the wrong footpath to Fairy Cupboards.”
Pam Ashmore, from the cancer fundraising group, hailed all of those taking part in the challenge to make up for the countless other fundraising activities and events which have had to be cancelled because of coronavirus restrictions.
Anyone wanting to join in can contact Mrs Ashmore on 01833638652 or Mrs Thwaites on 01833650215.
People who would like to support the many doing their walks in Teesdale by making a donation can visit fundraise.cancerresearchuk.
org./unite/teesdale-local-committee.
