This entry was posted on Friday, August 22nd, 2014at 10:08 am by zoe.leahy@activenation.org.uk

From John O’Groats To Land’s End In Aid Of Children’s Cancer Charity

A father and son have completed their mammoth challenge of walking from John O’Groats to Land’s End – and have already raised more than £11,000 for a charity that enables young people battling cancer to continue with their studies in hospital.

Robert and David Noyes walked 10 hours a day for 64 days to complete the 1,200 mile trail in aid of the Emma Maltby Memorial Fund.

Talking after they had arrived safely at their final destination, Robert said: “To be honest it was just great fun. It was painful at times, and getting along with your father for 64 days of walking for 10 hours every day is the second most stressful experience I can imagine, only behind the idea of having to do it with your son!

“It was a wonderful opportunity to spend time exploring outside, but the main highlight was unexpected

“This was the wide-ranging, phenomenal lengths of generosity we encountered all through the country. It was a fantastic summer and I’d love to do it all again.

The pair were inspired to raise money for the charity after Robert met Janie Stevens, Emma Maltby’s sister and the founder of the fund, while doing the Three Peaks Challenge for the charity. Emma died aged 38 from Ewings Sarcoma, a rare form of cancer found in young adults.

The charity now employs a support worker for teenagers at the Teenage Cancer Trust unit at St James Hospital, Leeds.

Robert said: “I feel very strongly about the power of education, simply because I have always had the opportunity to learn and have been taught by excellent teachers.

“I want to help others have the same opportunity I had, and to get taught by the excellent learning mentors at the charity. The work they do in helping young people with cancer continue learning while sick is quite inspirational and deserves support.”

19-year-old Robert and 51-year-old David live in Henley-On-Thames. Robert, who studies English and History at the University of Newcastle, has been a Supporter at Active Nation’s White Horse Leisure Centre since he was a schoolboy. David took a sabbatical from his job as an executive vice-president of a cruise company to complete the challenge.

So what’s next for the duo? Robert added: “Looking to the future, I am currently looking for a marathon to enter and am trying to persuade a friend to kayak the Amazon from source to sea with me. Though I might have to learn how to kayak first!

“Dad is looking more intelligently, focusing on the idea of walking in Wales some more – though he will have to persuade my mother before he sets off on a great adventure again!”

For more information about Robert and David’s brilliant challenge and to sponsor them, please visit: www.justgiving.com/Robert-Noyes