Thank you for visiting my Sports fundraising page in support of Macmillan Cancer Support. Please dig deep and sponsor me – it’s quick, easy and totally secure.

In April 2012 I lost my best mucker Andy 'Bugsy' Burrows, at the tragically young age of 43, who left behind his lovely wife Michelle and beautiful girls, Rebecca, Holly and Abbie. Please read the tribute to my mucker below. Some of the photos are related to the poem.

The time since Andy's passing has been emotional but last year I turned the sadness into positive motivation to get myself fitter, lose weight and complete the Great North Run in 2 hours 30 minutes 48 seconds raising a fantastic sum for Cancer Research due to the overwhelming generosity of friends, colleagues and family. 

This year I aim to beat my time and to raise funds for the marvellous work carried out Macmillan Cancer Support.

Macmillan Cancer Support improves the lives of people affected by cancer. They provide practical, medical, emotional and financial support and push for better cancer care. One in three of us will get cancer. Two million of us are living with it. We are all affected by cancer. We can all help. We are Macmillan

Every pound you donate really does make a difference to Macmillan Cancer Support – so please sponsor me now!

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Many thanks for your support.

My mucker 

by Tony Boyes

“It means nothing……….if I haven’t got you”

(Stereophonics)

Too sad to speak in Church today,

Yet, so many things I want to say.

I know I speak for everyone,

Who has ever met you and enjoyed your fun.

You truly are a diamond lad,

A loving husband and fantastic dad.

If others had needs you showed you care,

Generous and always willing to share.

Successful in business, respect from your peers,

Sought after skills over so many years.

Our sporting trips, our holidays,

Good times we had in so many ways.

At golf we sometimes got the cream,

Especially when we beat the dream team!

Our silver anniversary in Dubai,

You surprised us there and made Val cry.

We’ve often said in drunken tongue,

We wished we’d met when we were young.

Our teams suggest the bond is odd,

But we always joked “we’re 2 peas from one pod.

There was a bet on a certain game,

I nearly ended up with your 'hame'.

If we had lost it would have hurt,

But there’s no way I’d have worn the shirt!

War of the roses? Not a chance,

Just great banter, ‘cos we’d rather dance.

To Madness, Shalamar and James Brown,

We had no problem ‘getting down’

The bar in Portugal for all to see,

We got it ‘rockin’ to Georgie B.

We’ve shared so much as families and friends,

We always think it never ends.

But now your not here, it seems so wrong,

The time we’ve had was not so long.

Remember when we saw the band,

The lyrics above are close to hand.

Each day listening, I’ve shed some tears,

It seems the hurt will last for years.

But now I realise your legacy lives on,

In our hearts and minds you’ve not really gone.

Your inspiration is like tonic with gin,

And I’ll always remember your cheeky grin.

In everything I do, I know you’ll be there,

Your soul, your spirit still willing to share.

It really does make me feel so very proud,

To call you my mucker and shout it aloud.

God bless you and keep you safe in his love,

Until muckers are United in heaven above.

Rest in peace Bugsy.