Carlisle has come together to support a one-year-old boy diagnosed with a rare form of cancer.
Oliver Lancaster was diagnosed with intermediate risk Neuroblastoma, aged just 11 months old, in March.
His dad Michael, 28, is a chocolatier at Castle Chocolates on Fisher Street, and works with owner Keith Tattersal.
Keith, 35, wanted to do something to help the family, and raise money for charity. He said: “It was horrific to hear that of any child, but someone close to you is heart breaking because there’s only me and him that work there, I feel like I’m part of the family.
“I’ve seen Oliver from around six months old grow up and come into the shop with his family and obviously there’s nothing medical I can do, but I can do things financially for him to help out.”
He decided to do a gruelling 64-mile sponsored walk – and on July 16, will start at his shop and walk to the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle – where Oliver is being treated.
Keith was prepared to do the walk solo, but the event has grown as people offered to walk with him.
Alongside the challenge, Keith set up a Team Oliver Facebook page to keep track of the fundraising. The walk has gathered momentum since and more people are getting involved.
Michael said: “When he first told me about it, I just broke down into tears, I couldn’t believe there was someone willing to do such a challenge, to challenge themselves for me really.
“It just shows that people out there can and will do that sort of stuff, the whole of Cumbria is just kind of rallying together.”
It is estimated the walk will take up to 36 hours. Walkers will continue throughout the night and a support team, travelling by car, will be on hand with extra footwear, water and food.
The event has grown so much that it now includes a 32-mile version. Keith said he thought this would take up to 17 hours.
Michael added: “In my eyes they are like heroes because they’re doing something a lot of people couldn’t do and there are some people I don’t even know who are doing it out of good heart.”
Keith has also organized other fundraising efforts, including the creation of a collection of chocolates for Oliver with 100 per cent of the proceeds going to the family, two raffles and more.
Keith added that support from local businesses has been amazing so far, with many asking for sponsorship forms and collection boxes to help out and that he has also had great support from his suppliers too.
Money raised from sponsorships and donations will go to Oliver’s family to help with the additional costs of travelling for treatment and full-time care.
The funds will also be split between three charities, Children’s Cancer North, Young Lives vs Cancer and Neuroblastoma UK.
