We Walk for Yorkshire 2026
I’m taking part in We Walk for Yorkshire, the annual walking challenge organised by Yorkshire Cancer Research. I’ll be joining others across Yorkshire and beyond, to collectively walk 35,000 miles in May to help fund life-saving cancer research.
Why 35,000? That’s the number of people who are told they have cancer in Yorkshire every year. By walking in May, I’m helping save lives in our region.
By taking part, I’m helping to shine a light on the need for new and better ways to prevent, detect and treat cancer in our region.
By supporting my fundraising, you’ll be directly contributing to vital research and pioneering new services that will benefit people with cancer in Yorkshire now, and in the future.
Thank you for anything you’re able to donate. It will make a real difference.
My Activity Tracking
295
miles
My donations could fund...
a researcher for
108
hours
My Achievements
Profile picture added
I've got the T-shirt!
I've got the socks!
Shared my page
I've donated myself
First donation received
Reached 50% of fundraising target
Reached 75% of fundraising target
Reached my fundraising target
Completed 50% of my distance
Completed 75% of my distance
Reached my distance goal
My updates
Reflections
Monday 1st Jun During the last month I did a couple of media spots for YCR and the one consistent question was "Why are taking part in We Walk for Yorkshire?",to answer this I felt the question YCR asked me to think about when walking for on the Baton relay in Sheffield, in fact the baton carriers were asked to prepare a statement stating who we were walking for which was literally carried within the baton really helps to answer the first question.In memory of Andrea Burke, Ernest Shenton,
Alfred "Jim" Dowling, and Elizabeth Hannah Gallagher
I walk in memory of four remarkable people, each touched by cancer in very different ways.
My sister-in-law Andrea Burke died ten years ago, just 46 years old, shortly after being diagnosed with Peritoneal Cancer. She loved life and lived it fully — caring, funny, generous, and one of the hardest-working people I have ever known. She made Salaried Partner and then Equity Partner at Irwin Mitchell Solicitors at a remarkably young age. She is deeply missed by all he knew her.
I also walk in memory of Ernest Shenton, a man I had the great privilege to know. Taken by Pancreatic Cancer, Ernest was a charming, gregarious captain of industry — and even as cancer ravaged his body, he remained the most wonderful host, delighting in the company and achievements of others right to the very end.
I walk too for my horn teacher and hero, Alfred "Jim" Dowling, former Principal Horn of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, whose cancer of the optic nerve cut short a magnificent career. In the 1990s Jim told me of the radiotherapy mask made precisely to fit him — a treatment then still emerging. Thirty-five years later, I would lie beneath that same kind of mask myself. Jim shaped me as a musician in my teenage years, and to call him my hero is no overstatement.
And I walk — as I walk through every day of my life — carrying the memory of my beloved grandmother, Elizabeth Hannah Gallagher. Diagnosed with bowel cancer in her early sixties and given only months to live, my Gran confounded every expectation and lived a further thirty years. She was a living embodiment of mind over matter, and one of the greatest influences of my life. Lung cancer, found only on the day she died, finally took her — but not before she had shown us all what it truly means to have resilience when dealing with life changing illness.
I am also able to walk today thanks to the many people who helped carry me through my own cancer journey. I would like to highlight those whose own lived experience of cancer helped me beyond measure. My mother and stepfather, both cancer survivors themselves, supported me every step of the way. Samantha Elkinson guided me through every stage of treatment with a wisdom born of her own diagnosis — survived over twenty years ago — always knowing exactly the right thing to say and the right support to offer. Thank you, Sam. My dear friend Simone Shenton, who has herself recently faced and survived cancer, was there every step of the way and got me through my darkest days. I am forever grateful to you, Sim. The wonderful Debra was her usual kind and supportive self, full of useful suggestions and always a good ear! And finally Brian Kingsley, Professor of Tuba at the Royal Northern College of Music and formerly Principal Tuba at Opera North, who generously shared his practical wisdom about treatment and recovery. Most importantly, almost five years on from his own treatment for the same cancer as mine and still making gains, Brian gave me something precious — the hope that musical life could be rebuilt, and that life could be good again. Thank you, Brian.
I hope that through research [this fundraising drive supports] we can give everyone facing cancer a better chance — and especially those whose cancers, like Andrea's and Ernest's, are so very difficult to identify and treat in time.
Scar House Reservoir on Saturday
Sunday 31st May
It’s Friday so it’s Kinder Scout
Sunday 31st May
Y32 racing past
Monday 25th May
Target achieve
Monday 25th May Yesterday I made it to my target of 230 miles walked with 5.4km walk around Sturton by Stowe in Lincs, we followed this with a trip to Hessay, North Yorkshire for a day at the York Autograss Club’s two days of racing. It’s good fun with races for Juniors (10-16), Ladies only, Men’s racing but women can race in this category if they choose. Did a fair amount of walking around the site whilst there too totalling just short of 10 miles 12,179 steps. Was fun to meet up with my good friend Catherine, who’s local garage were racing see photo, and her partner Paul.
75% there
Tuesday 19th May So yesterday I just passed 75% point of my target mileage which is great to be nearing the finish line of meeting my target, I'm hoping I'll be able to beat it soon and add some more miles to my total. Our concert on Sunday was a success and the audience were very receptive - I met people who are currently experiencing recovering from treatment and those who had been through it. I gave a speech about my cancer journey and how YCR's Active Together program really helped. Interestingly on a workshop yesterday for Oxford Brookes University, who are currently designing a support app for patients recovering from head and neck cancers, one my fellow participants mentioned the need for pre-habilitation which Active Together if rolled out nationally would fill that great need. I had the honour to speak about my fundraising for the charity last Saturday on Colson Smith's morning show on BBC Radio Leeds; Colson was extremely generous and seting me up with some great questions. Thank you Colson!
From an Invalid's workshop to a Merry Workshop ... my journey with cancer
Friday 15th May
Please come to support us this Sunday 17th May in Haxby near York. Richard Strauss composed his First Sonatine in 1943, in his late seventies, recovering from a serious illness. He called it From an Invalid’s Workshop. The Second, written two years later, he titled From a Merry Workshop. Together, they trace a journey — from illness and uncertainty back to creative vitality, expressed through some of the most luminous wind writing in the repertoire.
These subtitles have taken on a particular resonance for me. Last year I was treated for stage 3 head and neck cancer — seven weeks of radical chemoradiotherapy at Weston Park Hospital. The journey from that invalid’s workshop back to the merry one, rehearsing and performing with these remarkable colleagues, feels like exactly what Strauss was describing.
It is why, when Sestina and our friends chose this programme, we agreed without hesitation to share our proceeds with Yorkshire Cancer Research — whose Active Together programme supported my recovery, and whose hundred years of work continues to save lives across our county and the world.
On Sunday's Hike around Bradwell Moor
Wednesday 13th May
Baton for Yorkshire
Tuesday 12th May
End of week one
Friday 8th May
Yorkshire Three Peaks
Monday 4th May
And we’re off
Saturday 2nd May Thank you so much to everyone supporting my efforts this month. I started off my first day with 12 miles yesterday. Today I’ll take it a wee bit easier in prep for tomorrow’s Yorkshire Three Peaks walk (25 miles) although I have walked 3.5 miles this morning and will most certainly do another short walk later. Have a great bank holiday weekend!Thank you to my Sponsors
£20
David Ross
£20
The Bonnetts
Well done Simon!
£250
D Shenton
Dedicated in memory of Ernest Shenton
£11.55
Sarah Lloyd
Great job Simon!
£11.55
Aimee Smith
Amazing and inspirational ♥️
£22.80
Jean, John And Family
Well done on completing the Y3P and wishing you all the best for the rest of your challenge
£27.05
Sue
You're a true inspiration Simon, what a beautiful heart you have 💜💛💚💙🩷🩵🧡 I'm sooo proud to know you x x x
£21.84
Jo Towler
£32.23
Karen Bradley
Well done 🏃🏻With Love, Karen
£10
Facebook Donation
£53.32
Anonymous
£11.33
Lara
£21.84
Catherine Hewitt
Best of luck up and down those hills Simon! Hope you enjoy your birthday challenge 🥳
£21.84
Janet Wilshaw
Go Simon! Sending you all the love from all of us! xxxxxxxx
£53.32
Lee Nelson
£21.84
David Leeder
£10
Ellen Badger
Enjoy every minute. Xx
£53.32
Simone Snyder
You are amazing! All my love xxx
£5
Sally W
What a fantastic way to celebrate your birthday Simon. You’ll be on your way by now - enjoy ☺️
£53.32
Stuart Willoughby
£11.33
Brendan O'neill
Enjoy the walk
£21.84
Fiona Price
£53.32
Beryl Brocklesby
£53.32
Colin Carol Willoughby
Wishing you all the best Simon with your walk for a great cause, lots of love Colin and Carol x
£10
David Bookham
£20.49
Facebook Donation
£10
Facebook Donation
£25.56
Facebook Donation
£20
Mary Fair
£20
Denise Hall
Good luck Simon you are an inspiration to us all with your positivity Denise x
£37.47
Joy And Bev Paul
£21.84
Rachel Emerson
£21.84
Hazel Allbones
Well done Simon. Good luck. Xx
£32.23
Jan Glendening
Good luck, Simon. You’ll smash it! Xx
£74.20
Anonymous
£21.84
Gemma Adams
£21.84
Miss Sarah Davidson
£21.84
Ally Matthews
All the very best Simon, we will be thinking of you all the way x
£53.32
Debra D
£21.84
Ella Cox
Best of luck Simon - so inspiring!!
£20
Katrina
Glad to hear you are doing well and helping others, Simon!
£21.84
Martin Ginnelly
So proud of what you are doing, something close to me and my wife ❤️
£11.33
Keith Mcgrail
Good Luck Simon & well done for beating Cancer.
£21.84
Neil Sheriff
Good luck & enjoy the walk
£32.23
Ali P
Good luck! Happy birthday!!
£10
Darren Farnsworth
Goof Luck
£11.33
Dave Gilchrist
Good luck with the fundraising Simon, it is for a very worthy cause.
£11.33
Fergal Lyons
All the Best Simon
£21.36
Trinny
Hope the weather is nice.
£21.84
Matthew Power
Simon a great cause and glad you in recovery.
£21.84
Neil Grossart
£10
Lisa Culvwerwell
Great Cause! Enjoy the walking Simon, nothing better than being in the fresh air.
£11.21
Sarah Mckenna
Good Luck Simon
£21.84
Neelam Bilkhu
All the best Simon hope you are on the road to recovery.
£21.84
Sarndra Devereux
You’re awesome Simon, love you to bits Xx.
£21.84
Sue Hyde
Good luck Simon xx
£21.84
Katherine Medway
You are amazing! Lots of love Katherine, Sarah and Kit xxx
£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 ❤️
£25
Nigel Tooze
£42.79
Isabel And David
Best of luck Simon! What a fantastic way to celebrate your birthday and a thoroughly deserving cause. Isabel and David xxx
£16.56
Sandra Readman
Enjoy your walks
£10
Julie And Bob. X
Amazing work Simon. Glad to see you're still well and keeping active. Best wishes Julie and Bob. X
£53.32
Dave
Bless you Simon x
£11.33
Sandra Mcgrail
Well done Simon very proud of you xc
£21.84
Sarah Razlin
£21.84
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).
£5.99
Anonymous
£11.33
Lynda Ashmore
Only too happy to donate to such a worthy cause.
£53.32
Rachel
Very proud of you Simon - an incredible determination. You can do this x
£35
Deborah Woolf
Such a wonderful charity Simon and so good to know they supported you when you needed them. Happy walking, go safely 😘
£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
£21.84
Mick N
Good luck on the walk and so glad you are back fit and well
£11.33
Debby Elley
£21.84
Jane Lomax
Good Luck - with you every step of the way XXXX Jane
£21.84
Hannah Watson
Fantastic cause Simon. Happy tramping xx
£21.84
Simon Twigge
Let's walk together
Pete Forbes
£11.33
Millie Powles
Boyd & Wendy Midgley
£703.32
Josie Clark
£2,145.54
Simon Twigge (C)
£2,137.79
E-IMMUNE Study Team
£104.14
David Bottomley
£197.09
Dave Campbell
£75.98
Kenneth McQueen
£53.32
Ken Shirtliff
£53.32
Nicky Tschumi-Leake
Stephen Jennings
£289.30
