A pair of leading Midlands businessmen are once again preparing to walk the walk for charity by taking on a double marathon effort for Cure Leukaemia.
Clive Read, a Partner at law firm VWV, and Martin Yardley, Coventry City Council’s Deputy Chief Executive (Place), are tackling the Race to the Tower, a 52.4mile double marathon through the heart of the Cotswolds on the weekend of June 8/9.
The two previously took part in a similar ultra-marathon, Race to the Stones, back in 2017, raising vital funds which were part of Cure Leukaemia’s contribution to the expansion of the Centre for Clinical Haematology (CCH) at Birmingham’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital.
Clive is a long-standing supporter of Cure Leukaemia, having previously been inspired by meeting Deborah Harkins, from Belbroughton, who is now in remission having been treated for Acute Myeloid Leukaemia in 2016.
“Meeting Debs was an inspiration to us all ahead of the last challenge, and my niece’s husband also lost a family member to leukaemia so the work of Cure Leukaemia is something very close to our hearts,” says Clive, who has also purchased a ‘Donate Your Name’ plaque to support the charity which will be included on the wall at the CCH.
“I know James McLaughlin and the team do a fantastic job at the charity, and there is some really ground-breaking work taking place right here in Birmingham.
“If we can do our own little bit to raise money then brilliant, and while last time it went towards the Centre, this time perhaps it will go towards funding a nurse or a vital piece of equipment.
Martin added: “A few of us are regular walkers, and are always looking for a new challenge, and so Clive and myself have decided to take on the Race to the Tower.
“It’s a double marathon, with total climbing of almost 7,500 feet, and I did look it at when we were signing up and think: ‘Wow’!
“Will we be up to it? We will soon find out, but I am sure we will meet the challenge and hopefully raise a lot of money for Cure Leukaemia at the same time.”
The epic and non-stop challenge will include walking through the night, from Gloucestershire to Worcestershire, before finishing, in keeping with the title at the foot of Broadway Tower, which ironically was originally built for the Countess of Coventry in 1798.
Click here for the donation page to support Clive and Martin’s challenge for Cure Leukaemia.
