We’d like to say an enormous thank you to Harriet, who led an amazing group of ten of her friends and family to complete The Lyke Wake walk, in support of her cousin Tom, who was diagnosed with glioblastoma over Christmas last year.
Harriet said, “Over Christmas, my 17 year old cousin Tom had an unexpected seizure. By the end of March, my family recieved the devastating diagnosis that the seizure was caused by an agressive brain tumour with limited treatment options. Tom started to recieve treatment at St James’ Hospital in Leeds, travelling 150 miles each day from home in Scarborough for Radiotherapy. During this incredibly challenging time, the fantastic Candlelighters supported my family.
It was the middle of lockdown and I was out walking with a friend when we first chatted about doing a challenge to raise money for a cancer charity. We needed something to aim for during a really miserable period.
The Lyke Wake Walk stretches across the North Yorkshire Moors, where I, and Tom, grew up. It was fitting to do a Yorkshire based challenge for a Yorkshire based charity. I then approached a group of friends to see if they were interested- to my amazement, eight got on board, and so did my mum!
The walk was gruelling! 42 miles of challenging terrain, narrow footpaths with many boulders, bogs, hills and endless miles across the moors. The hours flew by, the ten of us spent most of the time catching up! We were supported at each checkpoint by friends and family, including a few surprises – with pizza being delivered by Tom and his mum! By 9pm though, the storm that threatened to cancel the whole day hit us. Darkness fell very fast and the rain dampened our spirits.
We finished 19 hours after starting; soggy, tired out and emotional. But also incredibly proud of each other for finishing the task and raising an incredible amount of money for Candlelighters.
The pain we endured that day, the sore limbs and blisters, is nothing to what these children and families endure. I hope the money we’ve raised helps bring a little light and laughter to them all.”
In total, the challenge raised over £6,000 and we are so, so grateful to everyone involved in this incredible feat – you should all be so proud of yourselves.
Could you be amazing like the Lyke Wake walkers and take on a challenge for Candlelighters? Click here to read our Fundraising Pack to get started.
