Ashley Preece – a 33-year-old joiner from Blackpool – took on the challenge of a lifetime earlier this month to raise money for The Christie, the specialist cancer centre in Manchester.

Ashley and his brother – 27-year-old Cory – walked from their home in Blackpool in Lancashire to the Lake District, setting off early in the morning of Friday 9 September 2022. They then scaled the 978m-high Scafell Pike, England’s tallest mountain. In total, the 2 brothers covered over 70 miles. They were joined by around 30 friends and family members at different points of the journey.

Ashley and Cory took on the epic trek in honour of their sister, Rebecca Preece, who was diagnosed with thyroid cancer in January 2021, aged 29. She’s since had 2 operations at The Royal Victoria Hospital in Blackpool and will shortly be receiving her second round of radioactive iodine therapy – a type of internal radiotherapy used to treat thyroid cancer – at The Christie.


Left to right: Cory Preece, Rebecca Preece, Ashley Preece

“When Becky was first diagnosed, it really shook us to the core. You just never expect someone so young to have cancer,” comments Ashley. “Becky is going through such a difficult time with her treatment, so it seemed right that we do something equally as difficult in her honour. We’ve been really touched by people’s generosity and want to raise as much money as possible so that The Christie can do more for more people like Becky.”

“The fact that Ashley and Cory are taking on such a massive challenge for us is amazing and really shows how much The Christie means to them and their family,” comments Ciara Frainey, sporting events co-ordinator at The Christie charity. “We’re really grateful for their support and wish them all the best on the day.”

The Christie charity supports the work of The Christie NHS Foundation Trust providing enhanced services over and above what the NHS funds. This includes money for care and treatment, research, education and extra patient services. Gifts from the public make a huge difference to the care and treatment that The Christie is able to provide to patients and their families. 

To find out more about different ways to fundraise for The Christie, please visit the fundraising section of our website.