Story
The Challenge:
We will be attempting to walk from Bowness to Ilkley on The Dales Way non stop, leaving early morning Friday the 19th of Sept and arriving in Ilkley for a pint on the evening of Saturday 20th of Sept - Non Stop...The Dales Way is normally undertaken over 3-5 days stopping at B&Bs on the way. We will be going through the night trying to make it to the local 36 hours later.
The Dales Way runs for 80 miles from Ilkley in West Yorkshire to Bowness-on-Windermere in Cumbria, following mostly riverside paths and passing through the heart of the Yorkshire Dales National Park and the gentle foothills of southern Lakeland to the shore of England's grandest lake.
The Team:
- Sam Prus
- Martyn Stocker
- Will Schaffer
- Joe Smith
- Dan Chadwick
Sam's Why:
On the 23rd of December 2024 my wife Beth and I were devastated by the loss of our first baby girl, Lily Rose at 23 weeks. An unimaginable experience was made just that little bit less earth shattering by the kindness, professionalism and love showed to us by the Midwives and entire team within the Airedale Maternity unit.
Specifically, the Sunbeam charity funded Sunbeam Support Network and our bereavement midwives (Bev Beaumont and Gemma Sayer). The support we received during our time in hospital and post labour has enabled both Beth and I to process our grief. We can’t imagine what our journey would be like without them.
Martyn's Why:
When my wife, Rebecca and I arrived at Airedale Hospital with our 10-day-old daughter, Emma, we were facing an unimaginable nightmare. Emma was critically ill, suffering from viral meningitis and bronchiolitis. Her heart rate was dangerously low, and there were terrifying moments when she stopped breathing entirely and needed immediate intervention to start again.
Despite the overwhelming situation, the incredible staff at Airedale Hospital acted quickly, fast-tracking us through triage and providing Emma with the best possible care. Over the 10 days we spent in the hospital, the doctors, nurses, and consultants demonstrated exceptional skill, kindness, and empathy. Their care not only helped save Emma’s life, but it also provided much-needed support to Rebecca and I during a time when we feared they might lose their precious daughter.
Now, in honour of the exceptional care we received, we are committed to giving back. We want to raise as much money as possible to support the children’s ward at Airedale Hospital. Our hope is to ensure that other families facing similar challenges will receive the best care possible, just as we did.
Please join us in making a difference. Your donations will help provide the vital resources and support needed for Airedale’s dedicated team on the children's ward to continue their life-saving work. Together, we can make sure every child has the chance to receive the care they deserve.
Will’s Why:
Between 2022 and 2024, my wife Clare and I experienced five miscarriages — each one heartbreaking in its own way. Throughout that long and painful chapter, the Airedale Maternity Assessment Unit was a constant source of compassion and support. The care we received — especially from Dr Graeme and her team — helped us through some of the darkest moments.
In March 2025, we welcomed our daughter Leona, after a successful pregnancy through IVF. It was the same team at Airedale who stood with us from that first loss all the way to Leona’s delivery. Their expertise, kindness, and consistency meant the world to us, and we’ll never forget it.
This walk is a small way to give back — to help ensure that other families facing grief, fear, or uncertainty receive the same care and support we did. I’m incredibly proud to be walking alongside this group of friends for a cause that’s so close to my heart.
The Charity:
We are undertaking an extremely ambitious challenge and have an equally ambitious fund-raising goal that will go towards amazing care for bereaved Mums and Dads and some of the most poorly children in need of life saving care.
We are grateful to all donations, no matter how big or small.
Thank you,
Sam, Martyn, Will, Joe, Dan X
About the Sunbeam Support Group
The Sunbeam Support Group provides a welcoming space for anyone who has experienced the loss of a baby or young child. Parents can meet other families who are grieving for their children, talk openly about their loss, discuss coping mechanisms, and learn to live again. Run by Airedale Midwives, the group offers advice for bereaved parents, and grief-related resources, including a lending library which allows parents to borrow books related to the topic of baby loss.
About the Children’s Unit
The Children’s Unit provides hospital care for over 20,000 children and young people each year. The 15 bedded facility covers both day cases and acute admissions. Airedale Hospital & Community Charity supports the Children’s Unit with various projects like brightening the ward with colourful murals, providing free meals to parents, and funding the AccuVein Vein Visualisation System to help Clinicians to local veins in babies and small children. This helps children to feel more at ease and reduces any worry about future hospital visits.
Airedale Hospital & Community Charity is the official charity of Airedale NHS Foundation Trust. We support the staff, patients and communities of Airedale across 700 square miles of West and North Yorkshire and East Lancashire.
We want everyone who needs our services to receive the best possible care and support. Our mission is to support Airedale NHS Foundation Trust to enhance patient care and employee wellbeing.
The funds and support we give enable our colleagues to go above and beyond for the Airedale community.