A MAN from Bude recently celebrated his 50th birthday by running 50km along the North Cornwall coastline, raising £1,500 for CLIC Sargent.

Graeme Anderton, along with his wife, Annie Creo, and friends Nick Cleaver and Harriet Bowyer, ran 50km of the Cornish coastline to support and fundraise for the charity.

CLIC Sargent is the UK’s leading cancer charity for children, young people and their families. It provides clinical, practical and emotional support to help those families cope with cancer and get the most out of life.

Graeme and his army of supporters started their run at Port Isaac on Saturday, September 17, at 8am, and headed north on the coast path through to Trebarwith Strand, Boscastle, Crackington Haven, Millook and Widemouth Bay, before reaching the final checkpoint at the Pepper Pot near Bude Harbour, which then led them to the finish line at Crooklets beach, 50km later.

Family and friends gathered to cheer them on at each destination, and a few other friends even joined them on the gruelling run at times in support.

Graeme decided to take on the challenge with an aim to raise as much money as possible for the charity, and to also express his thanks after the support they provided when his son, Jordan, was diagnosed with cancer more than eight years ago.

Jordan received support from a CLIC Sargent social worker and special nurses while going through his treatment at Derriford Hospital in Plymouth and the Children’s Specialist Centre in Bristol. Jordan is now the CLIC Sargent fundraising manager for Cornwall and West Devon.

Graeme said: “I wanted to do something different that would also be a sense of achievement for my 50th birthday. Living in such a beautiful place with such stunning scenery, running 50km from Port Isaac to Bude, along the gruelling North Cornwall coast path just seemed to be the right thing to do.

“By fundraising for CLIC Sargent along the way, I will be able to give something back for what they did for my son, Jordan, and also help those close to us in Bude, who are currently receiving treatment and help.”

Ten children and young people hear that they have cancer every day in the UK, and last year, CLIC Sargent supported 64 families in Cornwall.

The total of £1,500 that Graeme and his team raised could pay for a room in one of CLIC Sargent’s Home from Homes for six weeks, providing free self-catering accommodation near to specialist children’s cancer treatment centres, which are often miles from home.

Staying in a Home from Home ensures a family can be close to their child during treatment. If they are well enough, a child or young person is able to stay there too.

Jordan, fundraising manager for CLIC Sargent, said: “I am incredibly proud of what they have achieved. To be able to run 50km at 50 years of age on the North Cornwall coast path is pretty impressive, but to do it to raise money to support families going through a childhood cancer is incredibly generous and selfless of them.

“I would like to thank everyone involved for all of their amazing support. From holding cake sales on the beach to running the 50km on Saturday, the support they have received from the local community has been fantastic. The money you have helped to raise will make a real difference to families CLIC Sargent support.”

To find out more information about CLIC Sargent or how to fundraise for the charity, contact Jordan Anderton, CLIC Sargent fundraising manager, on 07876 653 829 or email [email protected]