Every four minutes someone in the UK dies from cancer. Smoking, alcohol abuse, genetic predisposition and obesity have been joined by other cancer triggers including air pollution, extended life spans, and human papilloma virus to tip cancer care into crisis. Nearly all research into the condition is funded through public donations, and “to do their bit” a team from Nottingham-based specialist distributer ArtSystems will step forward in September to “march against cancer”.
Come rain, sleet or shine, core members of the doughty ArtSystems hiking team will take to the Peak District on the 9th September to trek more than 25 miles to help raise funds for Cancer Research UK. The team, consisting of Ashli Watson, Bryony McGeorge, Charlotte Crampton and Elizabeth Payne, have been hard at work training, taking weekly walks gradually increasing their mileage in preparation. They are raising money through sponsorship by friends and supporters, and more walkers are welcome to join them on the day.
The hike will start in the early hours, leaving from Bakewell County Showground, and then joining Derbyshire’s beautiful Monsal Trail heading along the path of a former Victorian-built Midland railway line before dropping into the magnificent Monsal Dale. Ascending through Deep Dale, their path then heads south west past the village of Monyash in the Peak’s Southern Uplands before joining the Pennine Bridleway and heading south-east to meet the High Peak Trail. The final stretch will take the team south to Carsington Water and the finish line, the march totalling approximately 25.5 gruelling miles.
Team leader Ashli said ‘We wanted to do our bit in the fight against this terrible disease, and we wanted to do it in a way that was as easy as possible for other people to join in. We decided this hike through the Peak District was the best option, and it also meant we didn’t have to run a marathon – albeit we will be walking nearly as far and we won’t have much time to admire the views. And one thing we can promise you, we will reach that finish line!
“We are inviting everyone to sponsor us in our march against cancer. Please, dig deep; every donation counts and will directly support Cancer Research UK in its battle against the world’s number one killer. Globally, 8.2 million people die from cancer every year: young, old, men, women and children are taken from their families. Please, help us to help those who want to combat the killer.’
For more information and to sponsor the ArtSystems’ team visit https://fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org/team/ashlis-team.
