Talk the Talk

Contents...

• Exciting Grant News for Northern Ireland - Action Cancer
• Join The MoonWalk Celebration Road Trip...
• MoonWalks and Covid-19 Update...
• Walk the Walkers... Talk the Talk
• Our Final Words... - FACT

Exciting Grant News for Northern Ireland - Hot off the Press!

At a time when we all need some good news, Walk the Walk are delighted to share some wonderful news with you!

Action Cancer in Belfast are to be the recipients of a Walk the Walk grant that will enable them to buy a new Big Bus Mobile Unit. The grant was actually made at the end of 2019, with the actual launch of the bus planned for later in the year, but we are too excited and feel that any good news should be shared now!

Action Cancer offer a unique breast screening service for women between 40 and 49, as well as those aged 70 and over. These age groups are outside of the NHS screening programme, so Action Cancer save lives by providing this vital service to those whose cancers may otherwise go undetected until it was too late.

Their first bus originally launched in 2006, has now sadly reached the end of its working life. Finding funding to buy a replacement is not easy in these challenging times, so Walk the Walk have stepped in to principally fund a replacement and are thrilled to be working with Action Cancer for the first time. 

This is all we can tell you just now… but such great news for women in Northern Ireland, we are delighted to help them… watch this space for more details!

Join The MoonWalk Celebration Road Trip...

Our MoonWalks may be on hold… but we can’t let our MoonWalk dates, that mean so much to so many, slip by without some Walk the Walk style and fun. So, open to all, and free to take part, are you ready for our virtual ‘MoonWalk Celebration Road Trip'? Just what we all need to put a new slant on your walking goal! Setting off on May 16th from Clapham Common, London our virtual 29 day journey will be arriving in Edinburgh on June 6th and reaching the Finish Line for our grand celebration on June 13th in the beautiful Lake Myvatn Iceland. Who knew, that this year by uniting together in miles, we could all end up in the land of the midnight sun… how exciting. Find out more here.

MoonWalks and Covid-19 Update...

As you know, our wonderful MoonWalks are all on hold. The events will be rolled forward and we know that you are all urgently waiting for news, as are we. Currently, we do have a potential date in the Autumn and we are also looking at 2021. In both cases, we are waiting for government guidelines in relation to holding events and the earliest this has been promised is sometime in June. Just like you, we are patiently waiting for some guidance and as soon as we have any, you can be sure, we will let you all know.

In the meantime, it is of huge concern that our fundraising has almost stopped, and in turn has a huge impact on our benefiting charities, many of which are working on the front line of cancer and struggling to keep going. A lot to try and consider but at the heart of our planning is the health and well-being of our supporters and the Walk the Walk staff, without which we would not be able to consider how to go forward. Events will take place, not only when we have permission but also when we feel it is safe to do so. In the meantime, your continued support is very much appreciated no matter how small… many people can move a mountain, so I know you will be there to help us continue to make a difference where it is needed now more than ever. See more here.

Walk the Walkers... Talk the Talk

We just loved the inspirational message below (from Jackie in our Walkers Hub). So, it got us thinking!

We would love to include some of the funny things you may have seen, an act of kindness (from yourself or from someone else!), an inspiring quote, or something you have found that has helped you, in our regular newsletter during these difficult times. Email your message and keep your eyes peeled… yours may be showcased next!

“I, like many of you are so disappointed that the moonwalks for 2020 are not running as plan. I belong to Team Blink, raising awareness of male and female breast cancer. As a team we were taking part in multiple challenges. Some of us were doing London, some Edinbra,, some London & Edinbra and I was the crazy one doing The 3 Land Challenge." - Jacqui 

Read Jacqui's inspiring blog here.

Our Final Words...

Whilst all the charities we know are going above and beyond the call of duty where they can, we could not go without sharing this huge act of kindness… FACT stands for Facing All Cancers Together and is a wonderful charity based in the North East - Walk the Walk with our fundraisers help, have made a number of grants to support FACT and had the pleasure of getting to know this charity really well.

During the current pandemic, FACT’s support has had to stretch far outside of its usual demands to support local people with cancer and their families. Whilst the charity is providing more counselling services than ever before, they are also delivering hundreds of wonderful “Kindness boxes” a week to people who are in desperate need. The boxes include staple food items such as tea, coffee, tinned foods and bread, as well as toiletries, nappies and household cleaning products. If you live in Newcastle Upon Tyne and can help in any way with a donation of items for the kindness boxes please do contact FACT.

Email us to let us know if there are any topics, subjects or articles that you would like to see included next time.