Tommy G Posted 30 September 2010 Posted 30 September 2010 From The Merc Website: [ b]Boy's charity walk is tribute to grandfatherBy cathy buss health correspondent[/b] An eight-year-old is planning a sponsored walk in memory of his grandfather who died from cancer three years ago. John Meadows will walk 7.78 miles (12.52km) from his football team's ground, in Thurlaston, to the Walkers Stadium, home of his heroes. He is hoping that he will be able to raise enough money to buy some portable DVD players for cancer patients at Leicester Royal Infirmary. John, from Huncote, is raising money for the oncology unit which treated his grandfather, Bill Allkin. Mr Allkin, from Hinckley, was 60 when doctors told him the oesophageal cancer from which he suffered had spread. Football-mad John will be doing the walk next Saturday with mum Karen, dad Jason and grandmother Rosemary Allkin. Mrs Meadows, 38, said: "John thought of the idea all by himself as he wanted to do something in memory of his granddad, who sadly died three years ago. "John was very close to him and in the summer decided he wanted to do something in his memory. "He set up a little stall at the end of our driveway and he raised £40 for Cancer Research UK." It was then John was bitten by the charity fund-raising bug and wanted to do more. Mrs Meadows said: "We talked about it and thought it would be nice to be able to buy something tangible rather than money just disappearing into a big charity. "It seemed appropriate to do this walk as John is football mad and season ticket holder at Leicester City. "We rang the oncology unit at the infirmary and staff said they would really love more portable DVD players. "They are for patients who sometimes have to sit for hours having chemotherapy." John has collected about £100 in sponsorship from friends and family plus teachers at Huncote Primary School, where he is a pupil. He said: "I have never walked 7.78 miles before. The sat nav says it will take about two-and-a-half hours but I think it might take about three. "I'm not sure how many DVD players I will be able to buy, but I think it would be nice to get some DVDs as well." "I do miss my granddad. I used to visit him a lot when he was in hospital." His father, Jason, said: "We are all very proud of John." John has a four-year-old sister, Elena. Lorraine Granger, senior sister in the chemotherapy suite at Leicester's hospitals, said: "I was thrilled to hear John is planning to help our patients. "Some of them receive lengthy treatment on the chemotherapy suite so we would like to put any funds raised towards portable DVD players to help our patients to pass the time." I know cancer in someway affects everyone. I don't know the guy - never met him. it's a bit of a sob story and it got me!! I rang up huncote School and sent some money to them in an envelope, just thought I would spread the word as heis a big city fan....
Wymsey Posted 30 September 2010 Posted 30 September 2010 It will be good for him both for his CV and popularity.
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