Willie Lees in the Lake District during his Coast-to-Coast walk

Another Coast-to-Coast walker has completed the route to raise money for a Manchester cancer charity.

Stockport man Willie Lees handed over £1,625 to Christie’s which supports the work of the Christie Hospital, one of Europe’s largest cancer-treatment centres. In December, we reported how 23-year-old Tom Buckley completed the 192-mile walk in atrocious conditions. Tom, who has terminal cancer, is himself a patient at the Christie.

Mr Lees completed his charity walk in October, 15 days after starting from St Bees on the Cumbrian coast.

He was inspired to undertake the walk when his friend Kerry Barlow was diagnosed with breast cancer. Christie’s regional appeals officer Jackie Plant received a cheque from the walker recently. The money will help Dr Abbas Chittalia, who is treating Ms Barlow.

Mr Lees said: “Kerry was diagnosed with breast cancer in September 2007. That was bad enough but she had lost her brother, Sean, to cancer four years before and, in December, 2007, her father, John, was diagnosed with what proved to be terminal cancer.

“I resolved to try and do something positive on her behalf amid such awful circumstances.

“The walk was a great and unforgettable experience and I am proud to have done it for Kerry and Christie’s. Kerry and I are very grateful for the magnificent and generous support we have received.”

Tom Buckley’s appeal continues to grow and today close to £73,500.

You can read grough’s account of our walk in our routes section.