Goole to Preston walk for Rosemere and St Catherine's Hospice

A team volunteers are taking on a 10-day canal trek in memory of a woman who died of cancer.
Joan Burrows, Terry Burns,  Stephen Richards and Stuart Richards will walk from Goole to Preston for Rosemere and St Catherine's Hospice on behalf of Irene's Cancer FundJoan Burrows, Terry Burns,  Stephen Richards and Stuart Richards will walk from Goole to Preston for Rosemere and St Catherine's Hospice on behalf of Irene's Cancer Fund
Joan Burrows, Terry Burns, Stephen Richards and Stuart Richards will walk from Goole to Preston for Rosemere and St Catherine's Hospice on behalf of Irene's Cancer Fund

Stephen Richards, of Longton, will walk from Goole, in Leeds, to Preston in memory of his wife, Irene, who died of stomach, spleen and pancreatic cancer last November, aged 55.

He will be joined by his brother Stuart, friend Terry Burns and Joan Burrows, Champion for Older People at Lancashire County Council.

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They will begin their journey on Monday August 14 and plan to finish in Preston on Wednesday August 23.

Irene RichardsIrene Richards
Irene Richards

All money will be raised for Rosemere Cancer Foundation, where Irene was treated and St Catherine’s Hospice, where Irene died.

Stephen’s sister-in-law, Suzanne Richards, of Penwortham, will be providing support and is battling cancer herself.

She said: “There is a core team of four people doing the whole walk along the canal, with others joining for part of the journey.“My twin daughters, Emma and Elyse, will do the second half of the walk.“This is all in memory of my sister-in-law Irene, plus I am having treatment for relapse lymphoma. I was diagnosed in May last year.“We had planned this walk when Irene was alive but when we lost her we decided to do it in her honour. “We are dividing the charity donations between Rosemere Cancer Foundation and St Catherine’s Hospice, both of which have been instrumental in Irene’s treatment, support and care.“I am really proud of everyone for doing this walk. It is great to see something good come out of such terrible circumstances.“When you lose someone it is good to remember them in a positive way.”

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The 147-mile walk is just one of the group’s fund-raising activities. They are holding a concert, with singer Chantel McGregor at Longton VM Sport and Social Club on September 1. Tickets are £11 or £14 on the door.

So far, they have raised £6,000 but they hope to reach their target of £10,000.