A student from Tarporley who was diagnosed with advanced cancer the day before his 19th birthday, is set to walk 240 miles for two charities only a year after beginning his treatment.
Patrick Savage, 20, will walk from his university campus in London to The Christie hospital in Manchester where he was treated last year for Hodgkin’s lymphoma – a type of blood cancer.
He is raising funds for The Christie charity and Cancer Research UK.
Patrick will be supported on the trek from The London School of Economics (LSE) to the Withington-based hospital by three friends, Phil Saunes, Jorge Stevenson and Alex Smith (all aged 20).
They will be completing the trek northwards from the capital with him starting on Tuesday June 22.
The group anticipate the walk will take them seven days, before they arrive at The Christie for Lunchtime on the eighth day.
Patrick knew something was wrong when he began to feel run down and found a lump on his neck.
After returning home from university due to the COVID-19 lockdown he was referred to The Christie where he was given the news that he had cancer, the day before his birthday.
Patrick was treated at The Christie’s £12m Teenage and Young Adult unit which was part funded by the Christie charity.
After six months of treatment, during which he was unable to have any visitors due to COVID-19 restrictions, Patrick returned to university the same day he was discharged from The Christie to continue his studies in economics.
He is now recovering and having regular check-ups.
Patrick, who has three siblings, Conor, 27, Roisin, 24, and Keira, 17, said: “It’s thanks to the amazing work done by charities such as Cancer Research UK and The Christie Charity that I am able to undertake this event.
“We’re looking forward to doing our bit to make sure everyone is able to receive the same incredible standard of treatment I did and to help continue the push to ensuring everyone who receives a cancer diagnosis gets to experience the unparalleled feeling of beating the disease.”
Patrick has also secured a significant amount of money from corporate sponsors.
Iceland Foods Charitable Foundation, Boohoo, Peel Group, Regatta, The Steve Morgan Foundation and Together have all pledged to donate to Patrick’s trek.
Joshua Hughff, sporting events officer at The Christie charity, said: “For Patrick to be doing this for charity so soon after completing his treatment is nothing short of miraculous.
“We are incredibly grateful to him for undertaking such a huge trek to raise funds for us.
“This is an incredibly difficult time for us all. We know that many of our supporters and fundraisers have been struggling as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as cancer patients.
“The last year has tested and challenged us in ways like never before. We have been hit hard.”
Chris Doyle, Relationship Manager at Cancer Research UK, said: “”We are incredibly grateful to Patrick for his fantastic support.
“He is living proof of how research into cancer saves lives, and we are absolutely delighted that he has decided to take on this epic challenge to help raise vital funds for Cancer Research UK.
“We can’t thank Patrick and his friends enough for their support and want to wish him all the very best as they set out on this challenge.
“Every step they take will help our brilliant scientists and their life-saving work.”
To donate to Patrick visit: https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/Patrek2021
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