All on board for charity Love Train

Published 21 Mar 2012 12:00 0 Comments

THREE adventurers have started off along the road to raise £1m for a cancer charity as they embark on a two-month trek.

Ascot fundraiser Alan Carr, his daughter Charlotte and prostate cancer patient Nigel Lewis-Baker laced up their walking boots this morning and set off from John O'Groats by foot, aiming to arrive in Lands End in May - all in aid of the Prostate Project's Love Train Appeal.

Along their route they will be greeted by supporters at fundraising events, including large receptions in Edinburgh, Bradford and Bath, and will be walking between 15 and 25 miles a day.

Mr Carr, a retired estate agent who received an MBE for his services to charity, heads up the Berkshire branch of the patient-led charity which funds research into cures. Before setting off he said: "Apart from the physical element the logistics have been quite daunting but we are now ready.

"The idea for the walk originated from my daughter Charlotte who will be walking with me and Nigel Lewis-Baker, a 66-year-old terminally diagnosed prostate cancer victim and project trustee, who says he simply hasn't got time to die. He is an inspiration."

The trio is hoping the Love Train Appeal, which includes the 1,000-mile walk, will save 10,000 lives - equivalent to the number of men die from prostate cancer annually.

They have received support from Royal Borough mayor Cllr Asghar Majeed who supports the Prostate Project in his charity initiative.

Cllr Majeed has contacted councils up and down the country asking for them to support the Love Train walkers as they pass through their area and will be meeting up with them en-route.

The Love Train Appeal will also include a Diamond Jubilee Charity Ball at Ascot Racecourse and a humanitarian trip to Brazil.

Mr Carr is also appealing to women to help in the fight against prostate cancer. He added: "More men die from prostate cancer each year than women do from breast cancer yet awareness is poor. Men are bad discussing such things, women are not.

"We are therefore adding strength to our appeal by calling on the women of Britain to make sure their men get tested."

The trio aim to arrive in Land's End after 976-miles of walking on May 17. Follow their progress at www.lovetrain.org.uk

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