William Sinclair’s Steve Chalk will be leading a team of 14 in a charity challenge
William Sinclair’s Ferts & Chems Category Controller, Steve Chalk, will be leading a team of 14 in a charity challenge from the 17th -20th June. Steve, who has worked in the Horticultural industry for 17 years, was unfortunately diagnosed with Melanoma in April 2011.
Having received such wonderful support and care from the medical profession and support groups Steve decided that he wanted to do something to ‘give something back’ so last year assembled a team of 10, made up of family and friends (including fellow Sinclair employee Tara Truman), and last June all ten ran the full 100 miles of the South Downs Way (Winchester to Eastbourne) over three days and raised £7,500 for Factor50, who are the UK’s main charity concerned with funding research into Melanoma and providing support for sufferers.
This year the team, who operate under the banner of somethingsillyinjune, have ‘doubled up’ and are taking on the 205 miles of the Pennine Bridleway over 4 days and will be running 30 miles on two of the days and cycling 70 miles on the other two days, all off road.
“As well as undertaking the Challenge to raise money, we also work hard to promote awareness of Melanoma” commented Steve “It is now the fastest growing form of cancer amongst young people (18-35 year olds) in the UK. There is a popular misconception that it is just skin cancer and can be treated very easily, when in reality nothing could be further from the truth.”
“Unfortunately I am living proof of that” he continued “despite the best efforts of the medical profession, who have thrown everything at it, the disease has continued to spread throughout my body and I now have it in my lungs and brain and find myself in a position where I have a terminal diagnosis. All of this started with a rogue mole on my shoulder, so I would urge everyone to take care when out and about in the sun and to be vigilant about moles that change shape or colour – don’t be slow in seeking medical attention as early diagnosis is generally the key to controlling this form of cancer.”
“I would also like to take this opportunity to publicly thank everyone for the fantastic support I have received from the industry as a whole but not least from Sinclair who have been magnificent throughout my entire ordeal. The messages of encouragement and support help a great deal.”
As part of this year’s fund raising the Team are running a ‘Raffle of Excellence'. For every pound you donate you will be issued with a ticket that gets you into the draw, whereby you have a chance to win one of the fantastic prizes on offer, which include amongst other things a flying lap of Thruxton Race Circuit in a BMW M3 driven by Tiff Needell, a private tour for 4 by a Yeoman warder of the Tower of the London, a Tandem Parajet flight over Weymouth Bay and even a signed bottle of Whiskey from PM, David Cameron. You can see the full details and prize list by visiting Youtube and watching the promotional film on the following link http://youtu.be/5NKIeMsVPL0.
To learn more about the team, the challenge and to donate please visit www.ssij.co.uk