Matilda Elwell will once again be lacing up her walking boots as she looks to raise vital funds for Cure Leukaemia in memory of her husband, Neil Elwell, who sadly passed away from Leukaemia in 2012.
The sponsored walk will see Matilda cover the equivalent of FIVE marathons across FIVE days as she looks to walk from Old Trafford Cricket Ground, Manchester right through to Edgbaston Cricket Ground, Birmingham. The walk will mark the 10-year anniversary of Neil’s death which will be on 6th July 2022. The walk aims to encourage as many friends and family of Neil to join in the “fun” and help them top a combined fundraising total of £50,000!
Ten people will be taking part on each day including many of Neil’s closest friends and family, with a dedicated support team of four helping the team on their way.
We recently caught up with Matilda who was eager to mark the 10th Anniversary with a “big one”.
“Cure Leukaemia is a cause that is particularly close to our hearts as it directly supports the work of the Clinical Haematology Centre at the QE Hospital where Neil was treated. For the 10th anniversary, we wanted to come together again as a group of family & friends and do another big challenge to raise even more money for this special cause.”
“Neil was a keen fisherman and cricketer which is why we have chosen once again to walk along the canal between two iconic cricket grounds.”
“The previous walks, whilst challenging and painful at times, were great fun and a real opportunity for us to come together and remember such a marvellous man and I have no doubt that this walk will be just as good.”
Neil Elwell was first diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukaemia in December 2007 and following chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant it appeared that he had successfully beaten the disease. Unfortunately, 3 days before his wedding to wife Matilda in February 2010, he discovered that the leukaemia was back and a further course of treatment and bone marrow transplant followed.
In January 2012 Neil became ill again with complications following the treatment to cure the leukaemia and, despite remaining amazingly positive and high spirited throughout his ordeal, his body was too weak to fight, and he sadly lost his battle on 6th July 2012.
The majority of Neil’s treatment, including both bone marrow transplants took place at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham. Throughout the treatment, the care and support that Neil received was second to none.
In 2013, Neil’s family and friends took part in an incredible challenge raising over £28,000 for Cure Leukaemia by walking between Lord’s and Edgbaston Cricket Grounds!
If you would like to join the walk but can’t commit to completing all stages, the team will be following the below schedule:
Day 1: Manchester to Macclesfield
Day 2: Macclesfield to Stoke
Day 3: Stoke to Stafford
Day 4: Stafford to Wolverhampton
Day 5: Wolverhampton to Edgbaston
If you would like to join at the walk at any stage, please contact jackie@cureleukaemia.co.uk
Former England footballer and Patron of Cure Leukaemia, Geoff Thomas MBE, was celebrated last night with the prestigious Special Recognition Award at The Sporting Club Awards.
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