Cancer hike raises more than £500k for charity

A fundraising hike has so far raised £540,000 for a cancer charity.

More than 1,176 walkers took part in Macmillan’s Lake District Mighty Hike over the weekend of 15-16 June, taking on either a full or half marathon distance.

One of the hikers, Jeremy Langmead, 58, from Underbarrow near Kendal, was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2022 and is currently receiving cancer treatment. He was walking alongside friend Sarah Edmundson, 38, who has secondary breast cancer.

They raised £23,000 between them, with Mr Langmead saying he was "so pleased" to have finished the hike despite his treatment "zapping my energy levels".

"After about seven miles (11km) we did flag slightly, but were buoyed on by friends, family and other participants," he said.

"The camaraderie on the day was truly uplifting. It was emotional to cross the line and finish."

It took them six hours to complete the half marathon length.

The challenging route started in Penrith and took walkers around the Lake District national park.

Macmillan Cancer Support's Helen Hancock said the charity was "incredibly grateful" to those who "braved the elements by taking part in the breathtakingly beautiful, but physically challenging Lake District Mighty Hike".

Of the money raised, £342,300 could support Macmillan’s cancer information nurse specialists on its support line phone service for one month, the charity said.

In that time, it added, the charity could deal with more than 5,800 calls and web inquiries from people and provide a wide range of specialist information, such as how to manage side effects, treatment options, living with cancer, and coping with grief.

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