900 miles 'in memory of mum' (From This Is Local London)

900 miles 'in memory of mum'

9:29am Friday 19th May 2006 in

• Skip social links
• Print
• Email
•  

A Hampton man will walk 900 miles to raise cash for research into the rare form of cancer which took his mother's life.

Gary Lakritz, 58, will complete the sponsored circular walk for the Rose Margaret Foundation, set up in his mother's memory.

Mrs Lakritz died of Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis (LCH) last year, a cancer affecting certain white blood cells.

"I started walking long before my mother was taken by LCH," said Gary. "I have travelled to many parts of the world backpacking throughout many poor countries.

“It’s so relaxing to go away. No brown envelopes coming through the door and you meet new and interesting people"

Gary Lakritz

"I always felt I would like to put my walking to use to raise money for some good cause. I never imagined the cause would be to find a cure for a disease so close to home."

The challenge will take Gary from Hampton along the Thames to the Cotswold canal then to the Severn and on to Minehead.

He will then follow the Devon and Cornwall path to Poole and walk through the New Forest to Salisbury, cross-country to the Thames and then back to his starting point.

Mr Lakritz, who has played rugby all his life, has been walking ten miles each morning in preparation for the 12-week walk and plans to camp overnight.

He is looking forward to meeting people, educating them about LCH and recruiting more sponsors along the way.

"It's so relaxing to go away," he said. "No brown envelopes coming through the door and you meet new and interesting people. And if the weather is fine that would be perfect."

He is hoping to have a substantial sponsorship sum already pledged before he sets off from the Railway Bell pub in Hampton on June 3.

Fundraising started with a performance by Art Wood's All-Stars, led by the brother of the Rolling Stones' Ronnie Wood, at Twickenham Rugby Club on May 20.

Only around one in 200,000 people suffer from LCH and for this reason research work is limited as are resources in the NHS.

"This illness is long and uncomfortable," said Mr Lakritz. "I know how this illness slowly took its toll on a strong and resourceful woman. Mum never complained but got on with life - she was always cheerful right up to the end."

For details about the campaign and the Histiocytosis Research Trust visit www.rosemargaretwalk.co.uk