West Norfolk group's walking challenge raises £4,000 for youngster's treatment

A group of West Norfolk men have raised about £4,000 for a toddler’s treatment after completing a walking challenge.

Ben Clarke, Craig Cunnington and Karl Harrison, who all work for BRC & KH Roofing, along with Anthony Harrison, all set off from Holme last Thursday to embark on three days of walking along the Peddars Way and back, to fundraise for young Ireland Banham.

Ireland, who lives in Ipswich, is the daughter of Karl and Anthony’s cousin, and she is fighting stage four neuroblastoma, a rare form of childhood cancer, which she was diagnosed with in July of last year.

The group decided to take on the challenge of walking 92 miles over three days to boost the funds needed – in excess of £200,000 – to pay for Ireland to go to America for treatment.

Since diagnosis, Ireland has received chemotherapy and undergone a 12-hour operation – the treatment in America would hope to lower the risk of a relapse, but she will only be able to receive this once she is in remission.

After the first day of walking, the team were contending with blisters and poor weather, and Ben and Craig were forced to stop on the second day due to medical reasons.

“It was pretty tough to be honest,” Karl, who lives in Great Massingham, said. “We are still hoping to raise a little bit more.”

You can still boost their fundraising, by visiting their fundraising page at justgiving.com/fundraising/harrison-karl.