Cancer survivor Jack walking from Hartlepool to Liverpool to help provide hospice care for others

Jack, 32, has overcome testicular cancer twice in the last five years and plans to raise lots of cash for Alice House Hospice with the 133-mile challenge.

He set off from Ward Jackson Park early on Friday morning and aims to complete the challenge a week later.

Jack was first diagnosed with the cancer in June 2016 and underwent an operation at Middlesbrough’s James Cook hospital.

It returned in December 2019 when he received more treatment and now has to have regular testosterone injections.

He decided to help Hartlepool’s hospice as it cares for people with cancer.

Jack, a mortgage adviser, said: “I know the work they do with people with cancer.

"In lockdown I was itching to do something and one of my ambitions this year was to raise some money for charity.

"I have also always wanted to do a coast to coast so I though this would be the ideal way of doing the two things at once.”

Jack went to the doctors when he noticed a lump. Looking back on the diagnosis he said: “The first time round it was really scary.

"When you hear the ‘c’ word you assume it could be death because that’s what you link cancer with.

"The second time was scary also but I was kind of used to the process and the treatment was handed by the NHS really well.”

Jack, who will walk around 20 miles a day, was joined on the first leg of his walk by friend Charley Ferguson, whose mum, Anne, was well cared for by Alice House when she had cancer.

He added: “I didn’t realise just how much they rely on charity and generosity, it’s 80%.

"I’ve wanted to do something to give something back for some time.”

Janice Forbes, community fundraiser at the hospice, wished him luck and said: “This is another great example of the community supporting the hospice after such a difficult 15 months, with most of our normal fundraising activities cancelled.”

Anyone who would like to sponsor Jack can do so by going to https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/hartlepooltoliverpool

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