Sir Ian Botham is back out doing his bit in aid of Leukaemia Research. Skysports.com tried to keep up...
Sir Ian Botham is back out doing his bit in aid of Leukaemia Research. Skysports.com tried their best to keep up with the cricket legend on Beefy's Great British Walk...
Whether it be the Ashes back in 1981, as part of Sky Sports' commentary team or because he recommends a healthy breakfast that is 100 percent whole wheat, everyone has heard of Sir Ian Botham.
The former England all-rounder scored over 5,000 runs and took 383 wickets during his Test career, as well as playing in over a century of one-day internationals.
His statistics are impressive, though it will be his exploits in a stunning series against Australia, when he went from disgruntled captain to 'Superman' in the space of a few weeks, that will perhaps be the memory most will cherish.
However, Botham's biggest achievement has probably not come on the cricket field at all. Since 1985 he has been on a series of charity walks to raise money for Leukaemia Research.
Beginnings
It all began with a mere 900-mile trek from John O'Groats to Land's End, and since then he has gone on to raise millions in the battle to beat the most common cancer in children.
Fast forward 13 years and now the man is on expedition number 12 - a nine-day route that set off from Taunton and finishes in Durham, mirroring Botham's cricket career.
The one twist on 'Beefy's Great British Walk' is that this time the public will be given the chance to tag along, something that has not been possible in the past due to routes.
On day seven the finish came after a four-mile lap around the grounds of Fountains Abbey near Ripon, and around 100 fundraisers - plus one unfit journalist from
skysports.com - turned up to take part.
"It's been a great walk - it's been very successful and we've raised a lot of money," Botham said before getting underway from the centre of Harrogate.
"You have days when it's not so great, but the thing that is really working is the public joining in. That's when we really are making a lot of money and raising awareness.
"We all know there's a credit crunch going on at the moment and a lot of people are struggling, but this is probably the most generous walk we have done, per yard. I think the people are excited about seeing something positive in a world of negativity at the moment."
And that was the last time I saw him in motion. From then on the 52-year-old set a ferocious pace that forced many of his team into a jog just to keep up.
Many of the public were not too concerned about keeping up, though, but just about doing their bit. For each person or group there was a different story, a different reason to take part.
The walk was particularly poignant for the members of Featherstone Town Cricket Club. It had been planned that their chairman Jack, who has been a Leukaemia sufferer for eight years, was to take part.
Priceless call
Sadly his physical condition had meant he had had to go into hospital beforehand, a turn of events that led to an unexpected, 11-minute phone call from the leader of the pack.
"Besides coming on the walk we had to present a cheque for £1,822 which we raised through a charity cricket match," John, Featherstone's club secretary, said.
"Our chairman has suffered with Leukaemia for eight years. Jack was coming on this walk and we were coming to support him. He's now been taken into hospital, so we've come to do the walk for him.
"I asked him (Sir Ian) if he could ring Jack, and he did that. We spoke to Jack afterwards and he was over the moon. He's not that well but that will have perked him up."
While some were marching for specific reasons other were just doing their bit in the name of charity, such as 58-year-old Paul from York.
Accompanied by canine pals Molly & Millie, who set a lively pace of their own from the off, he admitted that Botham's playing days still stuck in the memory.
"I remember Sir Ian playing, he's about my era," he said. "I must admit he's probably my idea of the best cricketer there has ever been. He's a good commentator and obviously he knows what's he is talking about."
For organiser Sarah it was just another day at the office - except for the fact she also happens to be walking, providing she can keep up with the pace, alongside her dad.
Family matters
Having been involved with all 12 of the charity walks in some way or another she can testify that the fundraising has always been a family affair.
"I think every child is always proud of their parents, whether it be they are a doctor, a teacher, whatever," Sarah said after crossing the finishing line.
"With dad doing the stuff he is doing, we are all very proud and as a family we all get behind him and work together on them
"My sister was born on the first walk from John O'Groats to Lands End. Whilst Liam and I were at school we would come across and join dad for the walks during weekends and I organised the last walk, which was 17 cities in nine days.
"It's a group made up of family and friends - they've been involved since the start of it and all of them have been touched by Leukaemia in one way or another.
"They've all stuck with us and given up their time voluntarily. It's a very strong group - an extended family."
The family reference is fitting. Botham's fund-raising efforts over the years have certainly helped in the battle to beat Leukaemia, the most common cancer in children.
He has said he will continue to march until the survival rate is at 100 per cent and already another walk is being planned for 2010. I can only hope he will slow down a little in his old age, allowing the rest of us to keep up.
