A real ‘Can-al do’ attitude

A stalwart charity supporter is planning one of his toughest challenges yet – a 43 mile walk along the Lancaster Canal.

Brian Morris plans to take just two days to complete the distance just days after his 72nd birthday, and is doing so to raise money for two causes close to his heart – Brian House Children’s Hospice and Blue Skies Hospitals Fund.

Brian, of Ashfield Road, Bispham, has long been a loyal supporter of the two charities, having completed several charity walks in the past and is both a Blue Skies Volunteer and a Friend of Trinity Hospice, where he has helped to raise more than £1m as celebrated by the Million Pound Milestone in 2015.

He has gathered a group of supporters who will complete the walk with him, including his friend Michael Edwards, Louise Darbyshire and Sally Snowdon from Lettings Solutions on Whitegate Drive, Blackpool and Anna Chadwick from Totally Wicked on St George’s Road, St Annes. Together they will set off from Preston on Tuesday 11th September, walking past the Fylde coast through Garstang and finishing in Tewitsfield, Carnforth, the following day.

Brian says he has already collected £400 in sponsorship, but expects to raise £1,000 with his almost double marathon walk. He said ‘I just do what I can to raise money for these two very worthwhile charities. I am not able to run very far, but I do a lot of walking every day so decided to do a sponsored walk. I’ve been supporting Trinity and Brian House for about nine or 10 years now, and started supporting Blue Skies about four years ago. I am thrilled to have people joining me for the walk. I’ve never asked anyone to do it with me, but these people have just heard what I am doing when I approached them for sponsorship and they volunteered to do it as well.’
The group will aim to complete 30 miles on the first of their two day trek, and will self-fund overnight accommodation before completing the walk.

Louise, of Lettings Solutions, said ‘I can’t wait to do this walk. Brian pops into our office regularly and we are happy to sponsor him for his various walks for charity. He keeps us up to date with what he has been up to, and when he told us about this walk coming up we just thought “let’s give it a bash”. We’re really looking forward to it.’

Brian House is the children’s hospice for the Fylde coast, supporting children with life limiting conditions and their families through respite care. Head of Fundraising, Linzi Young, said ‘Brian has been a supporter of Brian House for several years, and has helped to raise vital funding which allows us to offer our excellent care and support completely free of charge for the children and families who need it. We wish him and his team all the very best of luck for this walking challenge and in their fundraising efforts.’

Blue Skies Hospitals Fund is the charity for Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, and raises money to enhance the care given to patients above that which is offered by the NHS. Head of Fundraising, Kila Redfearn, said ‘Brian does a lot of walking around Blackpool and the Fylde coast every day, so we have no doubt that he will be able to complete this Lancaster Canal challenge with no problems. We are pleased other people are joining him to raise as much as they possibly can for both Blue Skies and Brian House. We will be thinking of them and sending lots of luck as they complete their challenge.’

A sponsor form is available to support Brian and his team of walkers at Letting Solutions, Whitegate Drive, Blackpool.