Fewer people join Felixstowe walk

ORGANISERS of a sponsored walk in memory of a 12-year-old schoolboy who died after losing his courageous fight against cancer have been left disappointed after a drop in people taking part.

Only 20 people turned out for the event held by the Felixstowe fundraising committee for Cancer Research UK and dedicated to Jack Wilkinson.

Committee secretary Doreen Giff said: “It was a bit disappointing because the turn-out was not as good as last year.

“We had hoped this year would be even better as last year's was so good, but on the day only about 20 people turned up.

“We need to look at our promotion of the event and get it right for next year to make sure we get the message out - so many people said they did not hear about it until the last minute - as people have taken part and really enjoyed it before.

“That also meant many people only gave a donation instead of finding sponsors so the amount of money raised will be less, too.”

It was not yet known how much had been raised as the committee is still waiting for the money to come in.

The event featured a triple walk with people challenged to do nine miles, five miles or a 1.5 mile walk designed for people with restricted mobility.

The Jack Wilkinson Memorial Walks started and finished from Foxgrove Residential Home in Undercliff Road East and covered areas of the seaside town and its seafront and there were people enjoying all three distances.

Jack, of Fairfield Avenue, Felixstowe, was first diagnosed with a rare form of bladder cancer when he was just two years old.

The family moved to Felixstowe from Wiltshire in 1997 and for the next eight years everything seemed fine as Jack's disease went into remission, until April 2005 when they were hit with the bombshell that the cancer had returned. He died in 2006.

Did you enjoy the walk? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail EveningStarLetters@eveningstar.co.uk