Rosemere's 'Walk in the Dark' goes virtual as surgeon urges people to sign up

Dr Srinivasan specialises in reconstructive plastic surgery and many of his patients have undergone cancer treatment at Rosemere Cancer Centre, the region’s specialist cancer centre in Preston. So, supporting the charity, which works to bring world-class cancer treatments and services to cancer patients from throughout Lancashire and South Cumbria, is close to his heart.

For more than a decade, the charity has held a carnival-esque, night-time 11-mile trek along the A6 as one of its major annual fundraising activities, but due to the coronavirus pandemic, this year’s walk has adapted to a virtual walk!

With ongoing projects that need continuous funding and requests for help to fund new initiatives piling up, the charity is asking the public to help it by joining Dr and Mrs Krishna Srinivasan in a revised version of the walk, which is being sponsored by construction company Eric Wright Group.

The charity’s walk co-ordinator, Rebecca Arestidou, said: “In a normal year, we have several hundred walkers taking part in Walk in the Dark, helping us to raise around £50,000. With the safety of our supporters being the most important thing, we didn’t feel we could go ahead with this year’s walk, but with our income already 65% down on where it should be, we’re appealing to those who intended to take part and others besides to still walk for us, but in their own bubbles to their own routes.”

To sign up to Walk in the Dark Goes Virtual visit www.rosemere.org.uk Registration is £10 with children under-12 able to sign up for free. All those signing up will receive a walker pack, walk number and a medal. The walker pack includes details of some top family walks in both Lancashire and South Cumbria. Walkers have between Saturday, August 15th and Saturday, September 12th, to complete their walk either during daylight or in the dark!

The walk can be done to any distance in either one go or in stages. Depending on the walk’s length, walkers might want to organise some en route support such as being met by family or friends with refreshments or even accompanied by a cycling partner able to carry supplies.

Dr Srinivasan, who in 2018 walked part of the Great Wall of China with Krishna to raise funds for Rosemere said: “We are very fortunate in that we have some beautiful countryside on our doorstep. Sometimes, to get out and enjoy it, we just need a little motivation and I hope supporting the foundation's Walk in the Dark Goes Virtual is all the encouragement that’s needed.”