Team at Leapgate Activity Centre to walk 10,000 steps a day in March after member diagnosed with leukaemia

People at the Leapgate Activity Centre in Worcestershire will be walking 10,000 steps a day throughout all of March to fundraise for Cure Leukaemia after Aidan was diagnosed with a form of leukaemia in 2020.

The centre provides daytime support for people with learning difficulties, and Aidan is well known and loved to the whole team, with many of them having grown up with Aidan.
Ollie Pratt, who works at the centre, spoke about him, and how devastating the news was the whole team.

“We were all devastated to hear back in August 2020 that he had been diagnosed with a rare and severe form of leukaemia and we have watched how bravely he has undertaken and continues to undertake considerable amounts of treatment.
Many of us have grown up with Aidan and others of us have got to know him through the Centre. When he has been able to, he has bounced and laughed through sessions of Zumba and joined singing and dancing, showing off his exuberant moves.
We have all felt helpless and are delighted to be able to show our love and support for the wonderful Aidan and his amazing family by doing the ‘Walk for Aidan’ to raise funds for Cure Leukaemia.”

The team will be taking on the challenge throughout the whole of May, and they’ll all be taking part and fundraising in honour of Aidan.

“We have approached our training for the event in very different ways. The staff have become extremely competitive with discussions as to what constitutes a step and the accuracy of various watches etc which record the steps.
There have also been claims of gruelling fitness regimes to prepare for the event. There have however been no independent witnesses of those people who claim to do 100 press ups and 50 burpees just while the kettle is boiling! Our young people attending the Centre have taken a more measured approach.
Whilst absolutely wanting to do their best for the challenge, they feel that carbo loading is also important and are not averse to second helpings of sponge and custard!

We look forward to warm and sunny, fun filled March days with as many smiles as steps when we Walk for Aidan.”