Friends Take On Epic Fundraiser To Raise £20,000 For Cancer Support Centre

Last year, a group of friends from the University of Bath came together from across the country in a monumental sports challenge, raising £20,000 for cancer support centre, Maggie’s Yorkshire.

Friends from university rallied together to raise money for the cancer support centre in Leeds that helped their friend. This year will be the 5th anniversary of Maggie’s Yorkshire.

The challenge was created to raise awareness for men’s mental health.

People living with a diagnosis of incurable cancer can continue receiving treatment for the rest of their lives. These treatments can control this type of cancer for a long time, this can sometimes be years. Terminal cancer is a cancer that cannot be cured or controlled with treatment and leads to death. A person with terminal cancer may receive treatment to help control pain and other symptoms so they can be as comfortable as possible and have a better quality of life for the rest of their days.Andrew was diagnosed with follicular lymphoma, an incurable blood cancer at 25. Andrew, an 800m track athlete, was shocked to hear about his diagnosis.

Andrew said: “Your mind goes to the worse case scenarios, ‘Am I going to die? How long do I have left?.’ I was in pure disbelief that I had cancer at 25 years old. It didn’t feel real.”

Encouraged by his wife, Leah, Andrew was able to access the support of Maggie’s to help him navigate life with a cancer diagnosis.

He said, “Maggie’s has replaced that sinking sand with something more concrete-like and kept our heads above water when we’ve felt as though we were drowning.”

“It has been very humbling to see how much it means to my friends to support the charity that has helped me through my toughest times. I feel very lucky to have such amazing people behind me who are willing to be so selfless for such a great cause.”

In May, team North and team South will compete three times in 48 hours. Running the equivalent of half a marathon each, the teams will start their monumental challenge with a relay race from the Maggie’s Manchester centre to be the first team at the finish line at the Mall in London.

North and South will then go head-to-head at a football match and finally, a darts tournament. Organisers of the North v South fundraiser, Matt, Jack, Tom, James, Ryan, Louis, and Kieran aim to raise even more money for this vital cause.

Matt said: “this event is also amazing because we are doing it as a friendship group, supporting one of our closest friends. The event definitely gives Andy a boost and strength to get through his diagnosis knowing that we are all there for him.”

For more information on the North v South fundraiser, or to donate, visit https://www.justgiving.com/team/northvsouthrelay.

Maggie’s has centres in 27 locations in the UK, including Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle, Oldham, and the Wirral. Based in the grounds of St. James's University Hospital in Leeds, Maggie’s Yorkshire is a free cancer support service for anyone affected by cancer and their loved ones. For more information visit maggies.org.