Nantwich support group’s “Walk of Hope” raises Christie Hospital funds

By Laura Normansell
A Nantwich fundraising group has taken part in a charity walk to raise vital funds for cancer.

Nantwich Christie Hospital Support Group has raised £223,860 for The Christie Hospital in Manchester over the past 19 years.

And the group, made up of 11 friends, added over £500 to their total by taking part in The Walk of Hope.

It was a 10km walk at Tatton Park in Cheshire, organised by the Christie, which treats more than 40,000 patients a year.

Neil Tinsley, treasurer of the Nantwich Christie Hospital Support Group, and his family took part alongside four other families.

Neil, 45, who lives off Barony Road, Nantwich, said: “The Walk of Hope is something I have done for the last five years.

“The first year it just seemed like a nice idea. It was something I could take part in with my little boy and over the years we’ve just carried on doing it, with extra families joining in.”

The  group, set up in 1993 by  Sarah Darlington after her father had cancer, initially raised money for The Christie by holding a Ball each year at Nantwich Civic Hall.

However, after the group’s third donation in 2001, the hospital needed money for its new drug treatment centre.

Neil, a teacher at Bridgemere Primary School, added: “The hospital asked for donations for the Derek Crowther Trials Unit, which was a new, up and coming drugs trial unit that needed money.”

So the group began organising smaller, regular events such as bingo, quizzes, fashion shows, race nights and games and curry nights.

Neil added: “We find the Christie is a charity that affects a lot of people.

“We do attract different crowds, depending on the event we do. We try to spread out the kind of events we do, so we make it more appealing to everybody.”

For information and to donate visit www.facebook.com/NantwichChristie or www.justgiving.com/NantwichWalkersofHope-2012