A Stockport local will soon take on a huge walking challenge to raise money for charity.

Mark Dutton, 56, will walk from Blackpool to Manchester, fundraising for The Christie hospital in Manchester along the way.

He is doing so in memory of his mother, Barbara, who passed away in 1984 due to cancer.

The Christie, based near Didsbury, is one of the largest cancer treatment centres in Europe. It is also where Barbara was cared for, so it has special significance for Mark.

He will begin his epic odyssey at 6pm on Sunday 13 October, starting from the promenade opposite Blackpool Tower. From there, he will walk almost 60 miles to The Christie in Manchester.

He is expecting to arrive around 3pm on Monday the 14th.

"The Christie means a lot to me given the fact that my mum lost her battle with cancer there in 1984", Mark said.

Mark will be walking from Blackpool with fond memories of holidays there with his mum Barbara (Image supplied / via The Christie)

"The date marks the 40th anniversary of my mum's passing. 

"When I was a child, we would holiday each year in Blackpool, so it felt poignant to attempt to walk from the seaside town where we holidayed to the place where mum lost her battle with cancer on the actual date as a mark of respect."  

Mark will not be walking alone. Around 30 of his friends, family, and work associates will join him on this emotional journey, with some attempting to cover the full distance and others joining him for a few hours, including a couple of friends who are currently undergoing treatment at The Christie hospital.

Lea Abell, an events officer at The Christie, said: "Mark's dedication and commitment to honouring his mother while raising funds for The Christie Charity is truly inspiring.

"The support he is receiving from his friends, family and colleagues is a testament to the impact he is making. We are very grateful to Mark and everyone participating in the walk, and we wish them the best of luck.'" 

Supporters can contribute to Mark's fundraising efforts by visiting his JustGiving page: Mark Dutton's Fundraising Page. 

(Blackpool tower image by Mark McNeill)

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