WALK OF LIFE
Mike and Jules Peters front 20-mile beach-to-beach effort for cancer campaign
ROCK star Mike Peters was joined by his wife and sons and 40 supporters on a 20 mile walk from Aberdaron to Abersoch last weekend to raise funds towards cancer services in North Wales.
Schoolchildren from Ysgol Abererch and Ysgol Abersoch joined the last mile or so of the walk and sang with Mike.
The Beach to Beach walk was a training day for the couple before they set out on a 10 day walk across North Wales later this month as part of the By Your Side campaign which was set up by Mike and Jules with the North Wales NHS Charity, Awyr Las back in 2014.
Since its launch, the campaign has raised over £270,000 to support new equipment and better facilities, support networks for patients and additional training for NHS staff, all making a tangible contribution to people living with cancer in North Wales.
Mike Peters, lead singer of The Alarm has lived with leukaemia for over 10 years. Wife Jules was also diagnosed with breast cancer last year and has undergone treatment.
Andy and Gwen Scotson, who both work for Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, were among the walkers on Saturday.
Andy said: “We decided to take part partly because we thought it would be fun, and I’ve been a fan of The Alarm since buying their first album on cassette back in the 80s.
“But also because towards the end of last year I lost an uncle and aunt, both to cancer, and we have family in North Wales currently under treatment.
“We met some lovely people and there was real camaraderie amongst the walkers. We were lucky with the weather, had great views of a beautiful part of the country and a massive sense of achievement when we eventually arrived in Abersoch.”
Mike and Jules’ 130 mile trek across North Wales will culmi- nate with the annual Snowdon Rocks walk and gig on June 24. The couple are hoping to smash the target of £351,120 – £1 for each step between the three main hospitals in North Wales.
Mike said: “The Beach to Beach walk was an amazing day. We are so grateful to everyone who came along and to the schoolchildren who helped me get over the finishing line.
“It was a beautiful but challenging route and having a big crowd walking made it so much more fun and enjoyable. We’d also like to give a big shout out to our fantastic volunteers who made the day possible.”