Businessmen take on 200-mile challenge for cancer research

Three men whose lives have been touched by cancer have set themselves a 14-day challenge to raise money for a Mold-based charity that funds research into the disease.

Cancer survivors Ian Gibson and Peter Dutton together with paramedic Wyn Jones, who lost his wife Judith to the disease in November, will walk almost 200 miles on the coast to coast path this spring.

All funds raised will go to North West Cancer Research (NWCR), which operates across North Wales and the North West.

Wyn’s wife, Judith, was a committee member for the Mold branch of NWCR for a number of years. Now in its 60th year, the charity is committed to raising £60,000 in 2012 to commemorate this milestone.

Peter Dutton, owner of Dutton and Peters builders in Mold, had his own battle with testicular cancer 15 years ago. He said: “As we all know only too well, cancer can have a devastating impact on families.  I benefited from the advances made in cancer research. Raising money through this walk is a small way of trying to ensure have that others have that same opportunity.”

Ian, founder of Artisan Windows and Conservatories in Denbigh, battled bowel cancer four years.

Ian said: “When I was ill, I dreamed about doing a long distance walk and talked about it with Peter. When I got back to work, those plans were put on the back burner because there never seemed to be enough time.

“Sadly last November, Peter’s sister-in-law, and Wyn’s wife, Judith Jones lost her battle against ovarian cancer at the age of 45. This came two months after another friend, Steve Lucas, died from pancreatic cancer aged 48. It made me wonder how I ever thought there was ‘never enough time’?”

The trio, accompanied by their faithful dogs Ben and Gypsy, will start their 196-mile walk at St Bees in Cumbria on May 5, completing the journey at Robin Hood’s Bay, North Yorkshire on May 19.

To find out more about Ian, Peter and Wyn’s coast to coast challenge go to: www.justgiving.com/Ian-Gibson6

www.justgiving.com/Peter-Dutton

Ian will be posting updates from the walk on his Twitter account www.twitter.com/iangraemegibson