Northampton man to take on 200-mile challenge in memory of his friend

The 10 friends in Coast to Coast training: (back row l-r) Gavin I'anson, Will Lilford, Andrew Steventon, Matt Atherton, David Ames, Ollie Perry, Sujan Shah, Doug Gordon. Front row l-r: Stuart Reynolds, Darryn Maroney, Gareth Williams, Alex Bates

Ollie Perry will join nine friends on the UK Coast to Coast trek from Cumbria to North Yorkshire in just seven days - a route that takes most walkers two weeks.

The venture, starting on May 15, is a tribute to Nathan Bray who was only 32 when he died of bowel cancer. The ten will also be raising money for the charity Bowel & Cancer Research.

Ollie, 36, from Cliftonville Court, Northampton, said “It’s going to be tough. There’ll be blisters and aching bones but we’re training hard so our legs can take it.”

This is not the first time Ollie has faced such a challenge. Since Nathan’s death in 2009 the friends have raised more than £43,000 for Bowel & Cancer Research by cycling from Land’s End to John O’Groats in 2010, walking Coast to Coast in 2012, and climbing 21 peaks in four days in 2014.

Deborah Gilbert, chief executive of Bowel & Cancer Research said: “Nathan’s friends are absolutely fantastic. The amount they have raised is extraordinary and their dedication is an inspiration.

“Our mission is to help ensure that bowel cancer is no longer a killer, and that people like Nathan will survive in future and we’re very grateful that they are supporting us.”

The Coast to Coast walk starts beside the Irish Sea at St Bees Head and crosses the Lake District, Pennines and North York Moors, ending at Robin Hood’s Bay.

Anyone who wants to support the 10 friends can do so at https://www.justgiving.com/C2C2016.

For more info about Bowel & Cancer Research, www.bowelcancerresearch.org.