Help me raise money for The Christie cancer charity.

Last year my dad received excellent care from the medical staff at The Christie wing of Salford Royal Hospital. It's a cliche, but cancer seems like the sort of thing that happens to other people until it strikes you or someone you love. My dad has never smoked, drinks very little, has a good diet and has always been trim and healthy - but this did not spare him from an affliction that affects thousands of people every year. My dad has, relatively speaking, been one of the lucky ones. Not everyone is so lucky.

I felt completely helpless at the time, and increasingly knew that I wanted to do something. It was all happening at the time of the flooding of the Thames in early 2014 and this gave me the idea of walking the full length of the river, from its source in Gloucestershire to the sea in Essex. So I'm going to do just that in the hope of raising a little money. Following the fire at Battersea Arts Centre, where I work, I had to postpone the walk but have now rescheduled it for the last few weeks of June this summer, and I can't wait!

I am donating the money I raise to The Christie, who every day contribute to the care of people suffering right now.

The walk will take me about two weeks, with camping (and the occasional B&B!) overnight. The total distance is over 200 miles and will take me from the source near Kemble to the completion of my journey at the end of the pier at Shoeburyness. I will take photographs and write about my journey so that I can share it with you all. 

If you can help me by donating anything you can spare I would be so grateful, as I'm sure will The Christie and the people who work for them.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity. So it’s the most efficient way to donate – saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

Thank you so much.

Phillip x