John and Mike take on Skye trail fundraising trek for The Christie at Macclesfield

A health and safety specialist from Macclesfield will take on a stunning seven day mountainous walk next year to help raise money for The Christie at Macclesfield.

Good friends and keen walkers John Thorley, owner of John Thorley Safety Consultancy, and Mike Banks a construction manager from Droylsden in Manchester are participating in the Isle of Skye Trail Trek (Skye Trail). Their 79 mile trek, will take place from Saturday 3 July 2021 to Sunday 11 July 2021.

John’s consultancy is based just five minutes away from the site of The Christie at Macclesfield, a state of the art new cancer centre being built at Macclesfield District General Hospital.

When it opens at the end of 2021, the new cancer centre will treat around 1,500 cancer patients each year through around 40,000 appointments.

Both John and Mike have family and friends who have been treated by The Christie and both know people who have succumbed to cancer. John will do the trek in memory of his Aunt, Joyce Bradley, who sadly died this year from cancer.

Speaking about the trek, John said: “Cancer affects one and all, either directly or indirectly. Mike and I have both lost loved ones to cancer and we wish to play a small part in raising funds to support the fantastic work that The Christie does. The Christie at Macclesfield will form an important link with The Christie in Manchester, which is an international centre of excellence.

“I also know that journey times and the stress associated with having cancer treatment will be reduced when the new centre opens in Macclesfield. The effect on the local economy and the surrounding area will be tangible.”

The Skye Trail Trek, though encompassing breathtaking mountainous and coastal scenery on an island off the west coast of Scotland, is a challenging walk for established hikers with many sections unmarked and off path. The trail includes the Trotternish Ridge (10 summits in one day), views of the Cuillin Ridge, and the chance to see Skye's array of wildlife, including whales, dolphins, seals, otters and eagles.

John’s business is committed to raising money for local and national charities and has helped to raise nearly £8,000 since 2014 through the kind generosity of clients, peers, family and friends supporting annual fundraising challenges. In January 2020, he was the main sponsor of an amateur boxing event at Shrigley Hall Hotel in Macclesfield, organised by his friend Nick Stratford of Stratford Solicitors. All proceeds were donated to The Christie at Macclesfield.

To support John and Mike’s fundraising trek please visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/skyetrailtrek2021.

The Christie charity supports the work of The Christie NHS Foundation Trust providing enhanced services over and above what the NHS funds. This includes money for care and treatment, research, education and extra patient services. Gifts from the public make a huge difference to the care and treatment that The Christie is able to provide to patients and their families.

The Christie NHS Foundation Trust was the first specialist trust to be rated as ‘Outstanding’ twice (in 2016 and 2018) by the health regulator the Care Quality Commission (CQC). It referred to The Christie as ‘a leader in cancer care’ and ‘a pioneer in developing innovative solutions to cancer care.’ The CQC praised the Trust’s staff which it said ‘go the extra mile to meet the needs of patients and their families’ and that they were ‘exceptionally kind and caring.’ In 2017, the CQC rated The Christie as the best specialist trust in the country, and one of the top three trusts overall in England. 

Pictured - John and Mike at Ribblehead.