Mum's brain tumour inspires extra fund-raiser at Pendle Pub Walk

Alex Waugh (seven) and Joss Waiting (10) are hoping to raise extra funds for Pendleside Hospice with Alex’s mum, Victoria Waiting (44), currently receiving care there after being diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumour.

The pair, who attend Blacko Primary School, will be on the stepping stones next to the river in Roughlee tomorrow.

They have raised nearly £3,000, of a £100,000 target, and Sophie Waiting, Joss’s mum and Victoria’s sister-in-law, said although the target may seem a big one it would not stop the family trying.

“Whilst our hearts have been breaking, the kindness and standard of care we as a family have received from the hospice has been outstanding. And with running costs of over £3m. a year, Joss and Alex are keen to try to get people to part with their cash so they can secure future places for other people.

“Thank you so very much to everyone who has already donated. We read all your messages with tears in our eyes, they are all very much appreciated. We have been asked whether we have accidentally put an extra ‘zero’ on to the £100,000 target. But no, God loves a trier and we feel we should at least try.”

Victoria, who is also mum to James (15) and wife to Stewart, was diagnosed with a glioblastoma multiforme grade 4 brain tumour just seven weeks ago.

Sophie said the news had left the family utterly heartbroken but they were determined to take part in the walk this weekend to help support the hospice.

“Victoria is only 44 and is adored by everybody who knows her. We only found out seven weeks ago and have gone from a normal family to a family who live day to day in a haze of devastation. Every morning we have a split second of normal, and then we are gutted.

“I am walking with her husband, son and daughter on the pub walk to raise money for the place that has proved our salvation. We will be leaving Joss and Alex at the stepping stones with my husband, Bob, and Christine, Victoria’s mum. We are walking for Pendleside Hospice and we are walking for her. We are walking to try to raise enough money to sponsor another person to be as lucky as she is to be there.

“Pendleside Hospice has cared for her so beautifully when everything around seems to be crumbling. We can’t thank them enough.”

Anybody wishing to donate online can do so through www.justgiving.com/fundraising/sophie-waiting1.

Last year’s Pendle’s Pub Walk raised more than £50,000 for Pendleside Hospice.

Organised by the Rotary Club of Burnley Pendleside, the sponsored walk is a combination of countryside and road-walking which provides epic views of the area around Pendle Hill and takes in 13 pubs and bars.

The full route is around 12 miles, but can be as short as six miles. This year the event is going to have two starting points. Walkers can choose to set off from the Village Hall, Barley, with The Pendle Inn as the first pub en-route or The Sparrowhawk, Fence. However there are three finishing points – the Four Alls at Higham, Pendle Inn and The Sparrowhawk.