Andy and Martin’s Jurassic Charity Walk for Good Hope

Andy Dowen and Martin Richards are both turning 50 this year, and to celebrate this milestone in life, they have walked 100 miles to raise money for the Cancer Unit at Good Hope Hospital.

The duo have been best friends since they were 13 years old and decided that raising money for two causes close to their hearts was the best thing to do to celebrate their 50th birthdays.

Their aim was to raise £2,000 to help fund equipment at Good Hope Hospital’s Cancer Unit and also to donate to Tettenhall Wood School to help fund a specialist play area for autistic children.

To raise the money, Andy and Martin walked 100 miles of the Jurassic Coast in Devon. They walked 20 miles a day stopping overnight in B&Bs along the way which was all self funded so all donations have gone towards their fundraising goal.

Talking about fundraising for Good Hope Hospital Charity, they said: “A dear friend, Julie, is currently battling breast cancer. She is doing amazingly and we are very proud of her. The thought is to raise funding to provide something to make the patient’s experience a little easier and more comfortable whilst attending the unit.”

They surpassed their fundraising target of £2,000 and raised an incredible £3,680 which they split between Good Hope Hospital Charity and Tettenhall Wood School, so the Charity received an incredible £1,840!

Laura Power, Fundraising Manager at Good Hope Hospital Charity, said: “A huge well done goes to Andy and Martin for walking 100 miles and raising such an incredible amount of money for the Cancer Unit at Good Hope Hospital!

“The money raised will go towards providing added extras that go over and above what the NHS can fund for the Cancer Unit at the hospital. Some of the things we have funded in the past include a brand new treatment room with 10 new chemotherapy chairs, and cloud kits for children who don’t understand a family member’s diagnosis and need help processing the information and their feelings.”

If Andy and Martin’s challenge has inspired you to do something for the hospital charity, why not go to our events page here, or create your own event and register it here!