CRICKET legend Sir Ian Botham will pass through Worcester during a charity walk to celebrate 25 years of raising funds for Leukaemia Research.

The former Worcestershire and England all-rounder will be dusting off his trainers once more for ‘Beefy’s Great Forget Me Not Walk’ next year. Sir Ian will be setting out on the third day of his special charity walk from Marks & Spencer in High Street, Worcester, on Monday, April 12, 2010.

He will walk for 10 miles, starting in Worcester, before heading to Croome Park in Croome D’Abitot where people can walk with Beefy to help raise vital funds for Leukaemia Research.

In 1985, when Sir Ian first started walking for Leukaemia Research, the survival rate for the most common form of childhood leukaemia was just 20 per cent. Now the survival rate is 90 per cent. Sir Ian, president of Leukaemia Research, said: “My walk in 2010 will be extra special for me as it marks 25 years since I did my first walk, and also the 50th birthday for Leukaemia Research.

“I never forget why I put myself through the pain and blisters. Sign up and join me on the walk and help ensure that every child diagnosed with one of these cancers will survive. I won’t stop until we beat childhood leukaemia, but I can’t do it without you.”

Beefy will be walking through 10 towns over 10 days from April 10-19, completing a 10-mile route each day.

Sir Ian said: “I need people to sign up now and make this my best walk ever.”

Those wanting to join Sir Ian on one of his walks can contact Botham Walk fund-raising co-ordinator David Blandford on 020 76855143 or e-mail beefy25@ lrf.org.uk.

SIR IAN'S ROUTE April 10: Manchester (Heaton Park) April 11: Birmingham (Sutton Park) April 12: Worcester (Croome Park) April 13: Bristol (Ashton Park) April 14: Winchester (Mottisfont Abbey) April 15: Epsom (Epsom Downs) April 16: Reading (Thames Tow Path) April 17: Milton Keynes (Campbell Park) April 18: Chelmsford (Hylands Park) April 19: London (Hyde Park)