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Baton for Yorkshire

We Walk for Yorkshire

Help us reach our goal of £5,000

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Reach Our Goal

Raised

£4,770 + £450.04 GiftAid

Our Goal

£5,000

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£20
could fund a researcher finding better treatments for one hour
£70
could fund a researcher exploring earlier diagnosis for half a day
£140
could fund a researcher developing new cancer cures for a day

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A journey through Wakefield 🥾

Yesterday, former Active Together member Rebecca Clegg carried the Baton for Yorkshire through Wakefield, setting off from Sun Lane Leisure Centre and walking through Thornes Park alongside friends and members of the Active Together team. 

Rebecca, a former nurse, was diagnosed with bowel cancer in November 2024 after struggling with dizziness and fatigue. She says exercise was vital to her recovery and believes every person diagnosed with cancer should be able to benefit from services like Active Together. 

"Active Together is just the best thing that ever happened to me. It helped me physically, it helped me mentally, and it helped me socially. It was the one place I could go and not feel the odd one out" 

The Baton for Yorkshire was passed to Gemma and the team at the Yorkshire Cancer Research shop in Castleford, where it will continue its journey across West Yorkshire.

The Baton for Yorkshire is on the move! 👟

The Baton for Yorkshire journey has continued on its final stretch of South Yorkshire, carried by the fantastic Active Together Barnsley team. 

Setting off from Barnsley Metrodome, Rhys, Millie, Mark and team were today's Yorkshire Cancer Research baton-bearers, carrying the baton onwards as they made their way to Wakefield. 

The journey ended at Sun Lane Leisure Centre in Wakefield, where the baton was passed to Rebecca Clegg, ready for the next stage of its incredible journey across Yorkshire. 

📍'Baton for Yorkshire' update

Today, Neil Garner, previous Active Together participant and charity supporter, proudly carried the baton alongside his daughter. Together, they took the baton from the Yorkshire Cancer Research shop at Crystal Peaks Shopping Centre in Sheffield, where Neil volunteers, through to Barnsley Metrodome, where he met the Barnsley Active Together team. 

Neil lives in Sheffield and has enjoyed walking since he was young. After being diagnosed with bowel cancer in May 2022, he received treatment at Weston Park Hospital in Sheffield. 

Following his treatment, his late friends Graham and Kevin inspired him to take part in We Walk for Yorkshire in 2024. Neil walked a total of 187 miles and raised over £800 in his first year, and has taken part each May since, sharing regular updates of his walks and incredible fundraising efforts. 

Together, we are walking to help fund new and better ways to prevent, detect and treat cancer 💙

The journey through Sheffield continues… 🗺️

After completing their leg of the relay, Yorkshire Cancer Research ambassadors Johnny Nelson MBE and Aaron Casserly Stewart handed the Baton for Yorkshire to Simon Twigge at Sheffield Hallam University’s Advanced Wellbeing Research Centre.

Here, Simon took part in Active Together, the research-backed cancer exercise treatment, after he was diagnosed with head and neck cancer in 2024.

“Walking got me through my cancer treatment and became a daily reminder that I was getting stronger once again, so the We Walk for Yorkshire campaign holds a special place in my heart and I’m excited to be carrying the Baton for Yorkshire.”

Simon carried the Baton for Yorkshire a total of eight miles, taking it to the Yorkshire Cancer Research shop at Crystal Peaks Shopping Centre, where he was met by Neil Garner who will continue its journey through Sheffield and onto Barnsley.

Yorkshire Cancer Research ambassadors carry the Baton for Yorkshire 💙

Yorkshire Cancer Research ambassadors Johnny Nelson MBE and Aaron Casserly Stewart carried the Baton for Yorkshire through the city of Sheffield.

Johnny was walking in support of his friend, Aaron, who was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2024. They took part in the relay to raise awareness of the importance of early diagnosis and the need for new and better treatments.

Johnny said: “For me, carrying the Baton for Yorkshire is about people coming together and backing the research that can genuinely change and save lives. I’m glad to play a small part and to walk for Aaron, and for everyone across Yorkshire affected by cancer.” 

Researchers in the spotlight 💡

The Baton for Yorkshire began its journey through Sheffield today, carried by a team of University of Sheffield researchers working on the innovative E-IMMUNE study, which is developing a new digital app to help people undergoing immunotherapy better monitor and manage their side effects to improve their quality of life.

Researchers were joined by people with cancer who are working closely with the team to co-design the app, ensuring it can have the greatest impact for people receiving immunotherapy treatment.

One of those people is 66-year-old Ian Boswell from Sheffield, who has been living with cancer for 11 years and started immunotherapy 18 months ago.

“Being involved in the E-IMMUNE study has been really rewarding. It feels good to know I’m contributing to research that could help others in the future.”

The group carried the Baton for Yorkshire from the University of Sheffield, through the picturesque Weston Park and onto Peace Gardens for its next leg of the journey.

Pedalling onto Sheffield 🚲

The Baton for Yorkshire continued its journey through South Yorkshire today, travelling from Rotherham Care Centre to the University of Sheffield, carried by Amy Earnshaw.

Amy is from the Active Together team at Rotherham Care Centre, and cycled the baton to its next stop, showing the different ways of getting involved in We Walk for Yorkshire to help fund life-saving cancer research. 

Every mile clocked brings us closer to a Yorkshire free from cancer 💙

The Baton continues on💙

Today, the Baton for Yorkshire travelled from Doncaster to Rotherham, carried by David Bottomley, alongside his friends and Claire from the Active Together Doncaster team. 

David took part in Active Together Doncaster after receiving major surgery for bowel cancer, the Active Together service playing a key role in helping David return to being active. 

In an interview recounting his Active Together experience, David said:

"I would recommend anyone of any age to get moving and exercise, start slowly and build it up. You will soon see the positive changes not only in your physical health but also in your mental wellbeing."

The baton was carried to Rotherham Care Centre where the Active Together Rotherham service is based.

📍'Baton for Yorkshire' update

Today, the Baton for Yorkshire began its journey through South Yorkshire in Doncaster, carried by baton-bearer Nicky Tschumi‑Leake, to recognise the 35,000 people in Yorkshire diagnosed with cancer each year.

Nicky took the baton through Doncaster Racecourse all the way to the Doncaster Dome, where she met Active Together Doncaster team member Claire.

Across the Humber and on to Doncaster 💙

Yesterday, the Yorkshire Cancer Research Baton for Yorkshire reached an iconic landmark – the Humber Bridge in Hessle.

The Baton was proudly carried across the bridge by Dr Cindy Forbes alongside the CANBenefit research team, who are based at Hull York Medical School helping to address health inequalities in Hull and across Yorkshire.

After crossing the bridge, the baton was collected by Nicky Tschumi Leake, who continued its journey towards Doncaster, and will carry the baton onwards to its next stop at the Doncaster Dome.

A day in sunny Sewerby 🌞

Joined by friends from parkrun, Josie Clark completed the next leg of the relay, taking in the stunning views from Sewerby Cliffs near Bridlington.

Josie chose to carry the Baton for Yorkshire to enjoy time outdoors and reclaim moments she lost to her cancer treatment.

“The Yorkshire coast and countryside is a wonderful place to walk. I like what it does for your mind; walking is so mentally beneficial for you.”

The baton will now continue its journey across East Yorkshire, with the iconic Humber Bridge as its next stop.

The Baton for Yorkshire is on the move! 💙

The Yorkshire Cancer Research Baton for Yorkshire has passed through Driffield from Hull, carried by baton-bearer Jayne Hussey and the team at Smailes Goldie who stepped away from their desks to enjoy the sunshine and help fund life-saving research for people in Yorkshire.

Jayne said: "I feel proud knowing my colleagues and I are raising funds for research that will save lives."

Jayne passed the baton to Josie, who walked with her friends from her beloved parkrun group. 

Together, let's walk for new and better ways to prevent, diagnose and treat cancer. 


📍’Baton for Yorkshire’ update

The Yorkshire Cancer Research Baton relay officially began yesterday at the charity’s centre in Hull, launched with our first baton bearer, Josie Clark, alongside the Active Together team. Together, they walked from the Active Together Hull centre to the University of Hull, carrying the Baton for Yorkshire.

At the University of Hull, the baton was passed to Dr Cecilia Pompili and two teams of researchers funded by Yorkshire Cancer Research – the NEOREHAB and CANBenefit research groups who proudly carried the baton through Pearson Park.

The baton’s first day concluded with its arrival at Smailes Goldie, Hull‑based corporate fundraisers, who will be continuing its journey through East Yorkshire to Driffield, carried by baton bearer Jayne Hussey 💙

🎉The Journey Begins!

Today, the Yorkshire Cancer Research ‘Baton for Yorkshire’ starts its month-long journey in Hull, carried by Josie and the Active Together Hull team. 

Kicking off the We Walk for Yorkshire baton relay across 35 iconic Yorkshire locations, Josie is holding the baton for 35,000 people diagnosed with cancer each year and inspiring others to join the charity’s life-saving mission to find new and better ways to prevent, diagnose and treat cancer in Yorkshire.

Follow the Baton for Yorkshire journey

Researchers, people with cancer and charity supporters are taking part in a Yorkshire-wide baton relay as part of this year’s We Walk for Yorkshire challenge.

Throughout May, the Baton for Yorkshire will travel through 35 locations across the region to recognise the 35,000 people diagnosed with cancer in Yorkshire each year.

From Yorkshire's historic cities and rural market towns to the scenic coast and the iconic Dales, baton-bearers are passing the baton from person to person - each united by a shared commitment to help save lives in the region, and beyond.

Visit this page for regular updates on the baton's journey, find out more about the people carrying it, and donate to help bring more life-saving cancer research to our region.

Our impact

11

Team members

381,579

Team distance

Our donations could fund a researcher for

34

days

Top fundraisers of individuals part of the team

Team leaderboards

Top fundraisers of individuals part of the team

Most miles of individuals part of the team

Thank you to our Sponsors

£230

Friends At Clayton Conservative Club

£212

Janice Clark

£200

Mortimers

We are all cheering you on Josie!

£150

Mike And Rachel Kirkwood

Well done Josie, Such an amazing thing to do .. be proud 🥰xx

£106

Debbie Bell

Amazing cause Simon!!! We both know that someone very special will be with you all the way!! Fantastic news that you have now completed such a gruelling treatment regime ❤️

£106

Andrew P Jackson

Good Luck to each and everyone of you taking part in this extraordinary event. You really are making a difference.

£74

Anonymous

£74

Adam Darwin

Good luck with your endeavours, great cause keep up the good work

£53

Ken Shirtliff

£53

Colin Carol Willoughby

Wishing you all the best Simon with your walk for a great cause, lots of love Colin and Carol x

£53

Graeme And Debs

£53

Kenneth Mcqueen

£53

Lucy Oldershaw

Good luck Dad!

£53

Helen And Bob

£53

Rachel

Very proud of you Simon - an incredible determination. You can do this x

£53

Dave

Bless you Simon x

£53

Beryl Brocklesby

£53

Andrew

£53

Stuart Willoughby

£53

Simone Snyder

You are amazing! All my love xxx

£53

Lee Nelson

£53

Debra D

£53

Anonymous

£53

Sam Clark

£52

Rosie Stephenson

Good luck Josie. Every little step is a step forwards.xx

£50

John Bottomley

Good effort bro

£43

Isabel And David

Best of luck Simon! What a fantastic way to celebrate your birthday and a thoroughly deserving cause. Isabel and David xxx

£43

Tracy Stokes

Fantastic job Jo doing this to benefit others 😘Tx

£37

Joy And Bev Paul

£35

Caroline , Janet And Mike

£35

Deborah Woolf

Such a wonderful charity Simon and so good to know they supported you when you needed them. Happy walking, go safely 😘

£32

Jan Glendening

Good luck, Simon. You’ll smash it! Xx

£32

Ali P

Good luck! Happy birthday!!

£32

Tony &colleen Hunt

Well done you, enjoy your walk xx

£32

Karen Bradley

Well done 🏃🏻With Love, Karen

£32

Andrew Birks

£32

Cathy Birks

£30

Harry And Kate

Wish you the best David!

£27

Sue

You're a true inspiration Simon, what a beautiful heart you have 💜💛💚💙🩷🩵🧡 I'm sooo proud to know you x x x

£26

Facebook Donation

£25

Nigel Tooze

£23

Jean, John And Family

Well done on completing the Y3P and wishing you all the best for the rest of your challenge

£23

Emma & Gary Palmer

£22

Simon Howard

🥰

£22

Hazel Allbones

Well done Simon. Good luck. Xx

£22

Rachel Emerson

£22

John Schofield

All the best to you Josie John & Liz

£22

Hannah Watson

Fantastic cause Simon. Happy tramping xx

£22

Jane Lomax

Good Luck - with you every step of the way XXXX Jane

£22

Mick N

Good luck on the walk and so glad you are back fit and well

£22

Jo Towler

£22

Adam & Laura

A fantastic cause! Best of luck on all your miles (and if you fancy a longish walk from the peaks back to Sheffield let us know).

£22

Sarah Razlin

£22

Katherine Medway

You are amazing! Lots of love Katherine, Sarah and Kit xxx

£22

Sue Hyde

Good luck Simon xx

£22

Sarndra Devereux

You’re awesome Simon, love you to bits Xx.

£22

Patricia Moore

good luck josie

£22

Neelam Bilkhu

All the best Simon hope you are on the road to recovery.

£22

Neil Grossart

£22

Matthew Power

Simon a great cause and glad you in recovery.

£22

Fiona Price

£22

Neil Sheriff

Good luck & enjoy the walk

£22

Anonymous

£22

Sandra King

Good luck Josie xxx

£22

Pip Wraithmell

Good luck Josie, you’ve got this ….

£22

Martin Ginnelly

So proud of what you are doing, something close to me and my wife ❤️

£22

Hannah & Ross

Well done Josie !

£22

David Leeder

£22

Judith Byas

£22

Ella Cox

Best of luck Simon - so inspiring!!

£22

Janet Wilshaw

Go Simon! Sending you all the love from all of us! xxxxxxxx

£22

Catherine Hewitt

Best of luck up and down those hills Simon! Hope you enjoy your birthday challenge 🥳

£22

Ally Matthews

All the very best Simon, we will be thinking of you all the way x

£22

Miss Sarah Davidson

£22

Gemma Adams

£22

Sweety Thengazhikathu

Dear E immune team….lets do it…..Best wishes for the Project 👍

£22

Sharon Darlington

£22

Paula Mckie

Your an inspiration Josie, keep on walking 🚶‍♀️ xx

£22

Caroline Legard

£22

Alice King

£22

Josie Clark

£22

Jasper

Good Luck ✌️

£22

Annette Dennis

£22

Boyd & Wendy Midgley

£22

Martin Barmby

Go cousin, proud of you!

£22

Emily Hakner

Great work Josie!

£22

Sue Megginson

Well done Josie. Keep going! X

£22

Simon Twigge

£22

Julie Hakner

Well done Josie, you’ve got this!

£22

David Bottomley

£22

Mark Stenton

£22

Wendy Midgley

£22

Paul Williams

£22

Carolynn Warley

£21

Trinny

Hope the weather is nice.

£20

Facebook Donation

£20

Karen

£20

The Tattersalls

Best of luck

£20

Anne

£20

Josh Macdonald

£20

Kaylee Hewitt

£20

Clare Foster

Great cause Josie. Well done you 🤗

£20

Denise Hall

Good luck Simon you are an inspiration to us all with your positivity Denise x

£20

Mick Ross

£20

Mary Fair

£20

Paul Koller

Good luck to everyone involved in the Baton Relay but especially to my dear friend Dave Bottomley whose strength, determination, positivity and support is an example to us all who face or are having cancer treatment. Love you Botts.

£20

Joanne Slater

£20

Christine And David Hodgson

£20

Katrina

Glad to hear you are doing well and helping others, Simon!

£20

Elyse Boyle

Proud of you both, keep smashing it! ❤️

£20

Anonymous

Keeeeep walking!

£20

Helen And Steve

£20

Alison Sowersby

£20

John & Karen Summers

£20

Jenny Jenkinson

Josie ~ you are truly INSPIRATIONAL. xxx

£20

Christine Sissons

£20

Helen Harrison

Wow Josie, what an inspirational lady you are.... Good luck xxx

£20

Debbie Williamson

Best of luck Josie. Xx

£17

Sandra Readman

Enjoy your walks

£15

Harry & Alice

£12

Joanne Kirby

Good luck lovely xx

£11

Stephen Wardley

£11

Rog

Great cause

£11

Debby Elley

£11

Lynda Ashmore

Only too happy to donate to such a worthy cause.

£11

Andrea

Good luck everyone

£11

Sandra Mcgrail

Well done Simon very proud of you xc

£11

Fergal Lyons

All the Best Simon

£11

Dave Gilchrist

Good luck with the fundraising Simon, it is for a very worthy cause.

£11

Keith Mcgrail

Good Luck Simon & well done for beating Cancer.

£11

Pete Forbes

£11

Michelle Hart

£11

Jane I-m

Josie you are doing an amazing job,well done 🥰

£11

Lara

£11

Jane Lythgow

You two are heroes raising so much money for so many years - good luck 💕

£11

Jenny Welburn

£11

Anne-marie Welburn

You are an inspiration to all, lovely lady x

£11

Brendan O'neill

Enjoy the walk

£11

Sue Thompson

£11

Dave Campbell

£11

Sarah Mckenna

Good Luck Simon

£10

Becky & Adam

£10

Alan And Aundre

£10

Jumbo & Julie

Smash it Josie. You are an inspiration.

£10

Jobby Abraham

Good Luck Sweety and team.

£10

Jim

£10

Philip Griffith And Martha

£10

Josie Wilson

£10

Julie And Bob. X

Amazing work Simon. Glad to see you're still well and keeping active. Best wishes Julie and Bob. X

£10

Sue Mellonby

£10

Pippa Neild

£10

Lisa Culvwerwell

Great Cause! Enjoy the walking Simon, nothing better than being in the fresh air.

£10

Derek And Pam Barker

£10

Darren Farnsworth

Goof Luck

£10

Diane Midgley

You two are amazing xxx

£10

Ellen Badger

Enjoy every minute. Xx

£10

Facebook Donation

£10

Facebook Donation

£10

David Bookham

£10

Vicky Webster

Well done Josie. Xxx

£10

Paul & Ann

Good luck Josie xXx

£10

Richard And Jenny Mccann

£10

Janet Cooke

£6

Derek Cooke

£6

Anonymous

£5

Pat And Ken

£5

Katy

Good luck xx

£5

Chris N

Wishing you all the best with the walk Simon; I can’t begin to imagine what you’ve already been through. X

£5

Sally W

What a fantastic way to celebrate your birthday Simon. You’ll be on your way by now - enjoy ☺️

£5

Steve & Jane

Our team members

Together we can walk for a Yorkshire free from cancer

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© Copyright  |  Yorkshire Cancer Research, Hornbeam Square West, Harrogate, HG2 8PA |  Registered Charity 516898 | Privacy Policy    

© Copyright  |  Yorkshire Cancer Research, Hornbeam Square West, Harrogate, HG2 8PA |  Registered Charity 516898 | Privacy Policy

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