Stephen finishes his epic charity fundraiser trek
JON MACPHERSON
AGRANDFATHER has completed an epic 1,200 mile walk from Lands End to John O’Groats to raise awareness of Cystic Fibrosis
Stephen Taylor, who was born and raised in Accrington, was inspired to complete the gruelling challenge after his sixyear-old grandson Thomas Taylor was born with the genetic condition.
Former Benjamin Hargreaves and St Christopher’s High School pupil Stephen set off from Land’s End on July 1 and arrived at the finish line on September 14.
Stephen, 54, was accompanied by his wife Alizon for 48 of the 60 journey legs and is confident of raising about £25,000 for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust.
He said: “It was so difficult and so emotional, which I didn’t expect.
“The physical side is tough but it’s a mind game getting up at 5.30am every day and then walking 19 miles. We finished a few weeks ago and I still can’t feel three of my toes.
“Never at one point did I think I’m not doing it any more. It’s the old Accrington Pals spirit, you’ve just got to get on with it.
“I’m passionate about raising awareness of Cystic Fibrosis. I have been given a baton to carry until the day I die and I will do whatever I can to raise as much money and awareness as possible.”
Stephen, who is managing director of PMP Utilities based in Hapton, took three months off work to carry out the trek and it is the latest in a series of fundraising activities he has done for Cystic Fibrosis
He said: “I’ve tried to do something every year. I’ve run the London Marathon, I’ve cooked over 200 sausages and burgers for people on a fete day and I’ve organised and run two golf days, but you end up knocking on the same doors.
“People are wonderful and lovely but they can only give so much. .
“The same points also kept coming back ‘what is Cystic Fibrosis?’ so I realised that education and awareness is just as important if not more than money.
“One in 25 of us carry the Cystic Fibrosis gene. Five babies a week are born with it and two peo- ple every week die from it. It’s a horrible disease.”
More than 200 people attended a celebration event at Mytton Fold Hotel near Clitheroe on Friday, October 12 and included a silent auction in aid of Cystic Fibrosis Trust.
To donate visit www. everydayhero. com/ uk/ and search ‘walking4cf’.