Hartlepool dad's 40th birthday fundraiser for daughter with kidney failure postponed by coronavirus

Gavin Lancaster was due to walk from Stranton Primary School where he works to Sedgefield Primary School on his 40th birthday today, Monday, March 30.

He is raising money for Kidney Research UK as his two-year-old daughter Poppy has chronic kidney failure.

But with the recent school closures and nationwide lockdown, Gavin has had to postpone it until later in the year.

He said: “It’s upsetting but it’s the situation we are in. I am going to do it later in the year when we are back at school.

“I’m going to treat it as a celebration that we are back to school. I will still be 40, that’s not going to have changed.”

But Gavin, also dad to Poppy’s twin sister Violet, Higham aged seven, and Gabrielle, 13, will continue to fundraise.

A page on gofundme.com has raised over £1,380 and Throston Primary School presented Gavin with £300 from a sponsored danceathon.

Gavin, who is a fundraiser for Kidney Research UK, added: “The fundraising will continue. So far we have raised just over £2,000 which is amazing.

“The walk was just to be the start of it.”

Poppy was found to have chronic kidney failure soon after having a routine blood test for food allergies last May.

She requires daily medication and dialysis six days a week which is carried out at home by Poppy’s mum and round the clock carer Becky.

Due to the coronavirus emergency, the family are awaiting news of Poppy’s monthly appointments at Newcastle’s RVI hospital.

The family have also had to cancel a trip to Legoland this weekend and Gavin, who is also a children’s entertainer and DJ, has seen all his bookings wiped out.

But he is continuing to run Stranton Primary’s internet radio station Stranton FM from home.

Children have sent Gavin recordings of them reading, singing and talking about activities they are doing while at home.

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To add to the fundraising go to Gav’s 40th Birthday Half Marathon Walk for Poppy at gofundme.com