People in Yorkshire Invited to Raise £100,000 to Mark 100 Years of Life-saving Cancer Research

Yorkshire Cancer Research is inviting people in Yorkshire to get walking in its 100th year and help raise £100,000 for life-saving cancer research.

Through its 2025 ‘We Walk for Yorkshire’ challenge, the charity is marking a century of groundbreaking cancer research in Yorkshire by encouraging people to step out and explore the beautiful Yorkshire region throughout May. 

Every step counts and every pound raised will help bring more cancer cures to people in Yorkshire.

Each year, 31,000 people in Yorkshire are told they have cancer. Those who take part in ‘We Walk for Yorkshire’ will raise vital funds to help fund pioneering cancer research and innovative new services to improve the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer in Yorkshire. 

The ‘We Walk for Yorkshire’ campaign aims to raise awareness of the importance of exercise on the prevention and treatment of cancer. 

Yorkshire Cancer Research funds a pioneering exercise programme that helps people prepare for and recover from their cancer treatment. Designed by researchers at Sheffield Hallam University and delivered by NHS Trusts across Yorkshire, Active Together has so far supported more than 1,000 people with cancer across the region. The cancer exercise programme recently observed 10% higher one-year survival rates, with 97% of people who took part in the Sheffield service reporting improvements in their health and wellbeing. 

People can sign up to take part in We Walk for Yorkshire on the charity’s website, choose their challenge and set up a fundraising page to share with friends and family.

Whether it’s one big hike in the Yorkshire countryside or multiple walks around the local town centre, the challenges can be adapted to fit all lifestyles and fitness levels. Every mile clocked by each person will contribute to the campaign’s overall ambitious total of £100,000, helping to fund a cancer researcher for 100 weeks. 

23 year-old Fred Giles from Selby was diagnosed with medulloblastoma, a type of brain tumour in March 2023 after experiencing constant headaches for several months. He had surgery after his diagnosis before undergoing 46 weeks of chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment. To aid his recovery, he joined the Active Together cancer exercise programme at the Yorkshire Cancer Research Centre in Harrogate. 

Fred improving his fitness levels means he can now take part in this year’s ‘We Walk for Yorkshire’ challenge to raise funds for vital cancer research in the region. In May, Fred will be walking the Yorkshire Three Peaks with his younger brother Logan who, along with his mum, was by his side throughout his cancer treatment. The brothers are also walking in memory of their dad, who sadly passed away from cancer in 2014. 

“I want to do something that matters. On the hospital wards, I met a lot of other young people affected by cancer, and I want to be able to help them by raising awareness of the benefits of getting active following cancer treatment. As well as my mum and brother providing a huge amount of support, thinking about my dad’s experience with cancer gave me a lot of mental strength to keep going during the most difficult times with my own cancer treatment. I’ll be thinking of him when we climb each peak.” 

Dr Kathryn Scott, Chief Executive at Yorkshire Cancer Research said: “There is so much evidence showing us the life-saving benefits of exercise on cancer outcomes, such as speeding up recovery and improving survival rates. By taking part in ‘We Walk for Yorkshire’, you are not only doing something great for your own health but also raising vital funds that will help bring more pioneering cancer treatments, including research-backed programmes, to people with cancer in Yorkshire. I encourage anyone, no matter who you are or where you live, to come together with friends and family and explore our big and beautiful region. Let’s walk for a Yorkshire free from cancer."

To find out more about the campaign and sign up to take part, visit the We Walk for Yorkshire website.