12:10am Saturday 13th March 2010
By James Connell
CRICKETING legend Sir Ian Botham says a 10-year-old leukaemia patient from Worcester is worth all the pain and blisters he will suffer on a 150-mile charity walk.
Maddi Green, of the Lyppards in Warndon Villages, will be stepping out with the former England and Worcestershire county cricketer for the walk at Croome Park, near Pershore, on Monday, April 12, to raise vital funds for blood cancer charity Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research.
Sir Ian started walking for the charity in 1985 after he was inspired by a group of children with leukaemia.
He has since raised more than £10million for research.
Maddi was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in February 2008.
Beefy met her at her at the launch of the walk in central London to mark the 25th anniversary of his role in fundraising on Thursday, March 4.
Sir Ian, who is president of Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research, said: “I never forget why I put myself through the pain and blisters. But I need people to sign up and join me on the walk and help ensure that every child diagnosed with one of these blood cancers survives.
“I won’t stop until we beat childhood leukaemia, but I can’t do it without you.”
Her dad, Jerry Green, said: “Maddi had been feeling unwell, had lost her appetite and was looking pale – which is why our GP had asked for a blood test.
“Twenty-four hours later Maddi’s diagnosis was confirmed, and in that single day her life and the lives of everyone who loves her changed forever.”
Maddi lost her hair three times due to chemotherapy treatments and is due to finish her treatment next month.
In 1985 only 20 per cent of children survived the most common form of childhood leukaemia, now 90 per cent survive this disease.
Beefy will be walking through 10 towns over 10 days from Saturday, April 10, to Monday, April 19, including Worcester.
He will be setting out on the third day of his walk from the Marks & Spencer store on Worcester’s High Street on Monday, April 12.
He will walk for 10 miles through Worcester before heading to Croome Park, where the public have the chance to walk with Beefy to raise vital funds.
He will have walked about 150 miles by the time he finishes.
If you would like to join Sir Ian on one of his walks please visit beefy25.com, e-mail beefy25@ llresearch.org.uk or phone 020 7685 5143. People can sponsor Beefy on his JustGiving page at justgiving.com/beefy.
Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research was previously known as Leukaemia Research and celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2010. Meanwhile, Kris Griffin, of Kidderminster, will also join Beefy on his walk. Mr Griffin was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) in February 2008 and raised £1,000 for Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research during a walk in Stafford 18 months ago.
The 34-year-old jumped at the opportunity to walk with the former Worcestershire and England cricket legend.
He said: “The first walk was shortly after my diagnosis and when I received words of encouragement and faith from Sir Ian after the walk they meant the world to me.”
“Since the last walk my treatment has been going well and I am feeling good. I’m lucky. The walk is for the young people who get hit hard by this terrible illness and it is imperative that we do all we can to support Sir Ian and the charity.”
To sponsor Mr Griffin visit justgiving.com/krisgriffin and for more information about Sir Ian’s walks visit beefy25.com
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