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This month, we’re putting Carl Eaton and Peter Walsh into our fundraiser Hall of Fame for taking on an epic Land’s End to John O’Groats challenge for The Christie Charity earlier this year.
Best friends Carl and Peter were first inspired to fundraise for The Christie Charity in loving memory of their friend Louise (also known as Lu Lu) who died of pancreatic cancer in 2023. Louise was treated at The Christie and after she died, Carl and Peter both wanted to do something to show their support and in the hope that they could help support the development of new treatments for cancer.
In April 2024, Carl and Peter decided to travel from Land’s End to John O’Groats, on to the Orkney Islands and all the way back to their hometown of Skelmersdale. As if that wasn’t enough, they decided to do the challenge with no money or provisions and dressed as convicts, to view the whole journey as a ‘breakout’. They would only manage to breakout based on the generosity of people along the way to help them complete their journey.
The duo took on the 1500-mile round trip in wheelchairs, as Carl is a wheelchair user. Although Peter is non-disabled, he wanted to do the challenge in the same way as Carl. Peter said he wanted to gain an appreciation of the difficulties wheelchair users face every day.
Carl and Peter chose the Orkney Islands as their destination, as it was somewhere Louise had always wanted to visit, but sadly never got the chance to. While they were there, they left some personal possessions of Louise’s on the island.
The adventure took Carl and Peter from Cornwall, to London, to Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Scotland, the Orkney Islands, and all the way back to Skelmersdale travelling by car, train ferry and trucks. After setting off on a Saturday morning in April, they returned home exhausted, but elated and successful by the Tuesday evening.
“This challenge was undoubtedly the most difficult event Peter and I have ever faced. Months of intense wheelchair training, especially for Peter, took a toll, but the unwavering support from our wonderful Skelmersdale community kept us going.
“Our journey was marked by both triumphs and setbacks, and there were times when we felt discouraged and defeated. However, the memory of our dear friend, Lu Lu, who tragically lost her battle with pancreatic cancer, motivated us to persevere. We were deeply honoured and privileged to honour her memory and raise vital funds for The Christie Charity, with the hope of one day eradicating cancer from our lives.
“This extraordinary challenge not only demonstrated the boundless kindness of humanity but also revealed the incredible strength and resilience of the human spirit. Despite facing numerous obstacles, we were able to overcome adversity and achieve our goal. The experience taught us valuable lessons about perseverance, teamwork, and the power of community support. It also reinforced our belief in the importance of giving back and making a positive impact on the world.
