Registration has now opened for Rosemere Cancer Foundation’s annual Cross Bay Walk and the charity’s chief officer Dan Hill is hoping that should it go ahead as scheduled on Sunday, 14th June, as many people as possible will sign up to take part.
Dan said: “We have been allocated 350 walk day spaces. I am keeping everything crossed that the walk happens and all our spaces are filled. As with many charities, we rely on big community events such as our own Cross Bay Walk to bring in funds. We also rely on organised cycles and road races like the Ribble Valley Ride and the London Marathon in which people are sponsored to ride or run for us.
“With the cancellation of these and many similar events, our revenue and therefore our ability to fund projects is taking a real hit. We totally support all measures to limit the impact of coronavirus but would urge people not to forget those locally also facing the challenge of cancer and so to register in the hope that we will all set out together from Arnside Pier to cross Morecambe Bay.”
The iconic eight-mile Cross Bay Walk heads out from the shore to navigate the potentially treacherous but beautiful bay – the country’s largest expanse of intertidal mudflats and sand – to finish at Kents Bank Train Station.
Infamous for its shifting channels, fast tides, quicksands and draining rivers, which make for its unpredictable character, Morecambe Bay can only be safely crossed with help from an official guide and so leading the way will be Queen’s Guide Michael Wilson, a local fisherman, who took up the post last year.
The walk, which is also suitable for children aged seven plus and for dogs, is one of only a handful of yearly fundraising events organised directly by Rosemere Cancer Foundation itself.
Julie Hesmondhalgh, the charity’s North Lancs and South Cumbria area fundraising co-ordinator, said: “Crossing the Bay is something you can’t just go off and do on your own. There’s also a walk season in that there are only certain times of the year when crossing is possible so there’s limited opportunity for anyone wanting to make the traverse. Please register as soon as possible to guarantee a place.”
To join the 2020 Cross Bay costs £15 for adults and £5 for children under the age of 16 years with all walkers receiving a Rosemere T-shirt and goody bag. Sign up is via Rosemere Cancer Foundation’s website at www.rosemere.org.uk/cross-bay-walk-2020
For anyone needing to use public transport to get to the start, there are coaches available to take walkers from Grange Train Station at 11 am for the walk’s 12-15 pm start. The cost is £3 per person and places must be reserved at the time of online booking. The walk takes approximately four hours to complete.
Rosemere Cancer Foundation works to bring world class cancer treatments and services to cancer patients from throughout Lancashire and South Cumbria being treated at Rosemere Cancer Centre, the region’s specialist cancer treatment centre at the Royal Preston Hospital, and at another eight local hospital cancer units across the two counties.
The charity funds cutting edge equipment, research, training and other cancer services and therapies that the NHS is unable to afford. For further information on its work, including how to make a donation, visit www.rosemere.org.uk
