Month: September 2022

No wonder Polly Booth felt like she was going round in a circle on her fundraising challenge.

That’s because she was, walking 110 miles over six days around the Cheshire Ring, a circuit of historic canals.

The route from Manchester to Marple, Northwich and Warrington, was all in a good cause.

Polly has raised more than £2,000 for East Cheshire Hospice which cared for her mum Linda.

Polly Booth with her mum Linda.

Linda, from Alderley Edge, died of bowel cancer last November, less than a week after her 70th birthday. She was looked after by the charity’s Hospice @Home team.

Polly said: “Mum was diagnosed in December 2020 and we struggled to get some health care services because of the knock-on effect of Covid.

“Her decline was rapid with her needs changing all the time, so getting care was quite hard and stressful.

“She wanted to stay at home and the women at the Hospice were just amazing. They came out to her every day for the last three weeks. They were there when we needed them most.

“That’s why I wanted to raise money for the Hospice to say thank you and to help other people benefit from their service.

“Our family will forever be indebted to the Hospice for their dignified care and even emotional support.”

Linda was a primary school teacher before she went on to teach children in care in non-mainstream schools for most of her career.

Polly and Linda Booth, who was cared for by Hospice @Home.

The Cheshire Ring takes in six canals – Macclesfield, Bridgewater, Trent and Mersey, Rochdale, Peak Forest and Ashton.

Polly, a project manager with the Environment Agency, said: “The walk was long and challenging, especially as I’m not used to hiking, but I wanted to do something quite hard.

“It was very peaceful, but I could barely walk for the last couple of days because of blisters and achy feet.

“The canal ring is 97 miles, but I covered 110 in total, including going to accommodation each night.

“Six days of walking along canal tow paths was a bit boring and samey after a while, though Marple Aquaduct was beautiful and I enjoyed visiting Anderson Boat Lift, near Northwich.

“I’m proud I completed this challenge for my lovely mum.”

* To donate visit justgiving.com/fundraising/cheshireringwalk

Bon voyage to brothers Tom and George Bentham who take the plunge on their coast-to-coast canoe challenge on Monday (Sept 12).

The pair have spent six months preparing for their gruelling 184-mile paddle in memory of their late father Mark, a keen sailor.

The Bentham brothers are hoping to raise £15,000 for East Cheshire Hospice and Macmillan which cared for Mark, from Broken Cross, who died of cancer in September 2019, aged 58.

Tom (left) and George Bentham who are canoeing across the country.

Neither had even sat in a canoe until they launched their ambitious Canoe Against Cancer challenge which saw them buy a second-hand vessel.

Their nine-day adventure starts at Glasson Dock, near Lancaster, where their dad learned to sail as a boy. He became a chef, cooking on private yachts around the world.

The itinerary includes Preston, Burscough, Manchester, Rochdale, Halifax, Wakefield and into the Humber.

A complex route involves four tidal rivers, canals, bridges, tunnels and aqueducts.

Tom, from South Park, Macclesfield, said: “Our training’s gone well and we’re up to doing the distance.

“We’ve had a few emotional training days learning about battling currents and head winds. I broke a paddle but manufacturers Bending Branches, who’d already donated two new ones, kindly sent a replacement.

“A tandem canoe needs synergy to balance up power and steering. We swap over in the front and back every 90 minutes.

“The front is effectively the engine and needs to put in a steady stroke rate, while the back does the steering.

“We’ve put in countless hours and miles of practice training on local canals and two blokes in a canoe in all weathers do draw attention.

“Lots of people have stopped for a chat, including two ladies last weekend who donated to the Hospice.

“It’s been nice hearing other stories about how the Hospice has been important for their loved ones and the feeling of community hospices create.

“It shows just how well-loved and how valued the Hospice is within the community and why it’s so important to make sure it’s there for everyone else when, or if, they need it.

“The hardest thing is going to be keeping up momentum day after day as fatigue builds up. We’ll be paddling for eight to nine hours each day, covering 22 miles on average.”

*  To sponsor the brothers email canoeagainstcancer@gmail.com or visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/cacec.

Mortgage adviser Alison Darby will never forget how East Cheshire Hospice helped her family shortly after it opened in 1988.

Her auntie Jeanne Gleave, from Prestbury, was one of the charity’s first patients and died of breast cancer, aged 51.

So when Alison heard about Tom and George Bentham’s canoe challenge she decided to sponsor them through her company Alpha Mortgages.

Tom Bentham with Alison Darby, sponsor of a canoe challenge.  

Alison, from Adlington, said: “I’ve got a special place in my heart for the Hospice which was new and quite tiny when my auntie was there.

“I go walking by Macclesfield Canal and my mum’s from Morecambe, near the start of their canoe trip. I’ve also had family members affected by cancer, so it rang a lot of bells for me.

“I had to sponsor the brothers and am proud to do so, even though I don’t know them. Good on them for doing this challenge.

“I lost a parent myself and to have some good come out of it and do something in their honour is great. I know how proud their father would be. He obviously lives on in them.”

Alpha Mortgages is a corporate supporter for the Hospice, with Alison undertaking fundraising activities for several charities.

Other sponsors of the canoe adventure are Card Industry Professionals, Pacific West, MHM Pensions and Renforth and Goddard.

* An afternoon tea will be held at Hollin House Hotel, Bollington, on Sunday, Oct 2, to mark the end of the trip. For more details contact Hannah Bentham on 07964 701027.