On the 12th May (Day 110) I
walked at Darlington Rugby Football Club http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/darlingtonrfc/.
This was a very special day.
I was warmly welcomed and felt
humbled and honoured to walk at Darlington RFC as the community, players and
supporters came together for the second year running to hold a very personal
rugby tournament in memory of a much-loved little boy who died after a long
battle with leukaemia. Henry Valks, the son of Jane and Richie of Middleton St
George, near Darlington, fought the disease for almost all of his very short
life.
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| With Richie Valks at Darlington Rugby Club at the Henry Valks Memorial Cup Day |
Henry tragically died in 2009,
aged just three, after becoming too ill to undergo a bone marrow transplant.
Jane and Richie organised the tournament, the Henry Valks Memorial Cup, after
the event was first held last year and was so successful. Rugby players both past and present came
together with local players from the area to make up 14 men’s teams and 2
women’s teams.
The atmosphere was a very special
one to experience and be part of. Jane
and Richie chose Children with Cancer http://www.childrenwithcancer.org.uk/ as
the charity for all donations from the day to go. Please do have a look at the
website as I never knew that over 3,300 youngsters including infants and babies
are diagnosed with this dreadful disease every year.
The welcome and the warmth I
experienced from everyone at Darlington RFC was extraordinary as this was their
day to remember Henry, to support Richie and Jane, and to raise much needed
funds for Children with Cancer. I am grateful to everyone I met for looking
after me and for inviting me to be part of the day by presenting the winning
trophy with Richie. Thank you to
everyone at the club.
I finished the day after a very
thought provoking and humbling experience with 1188 miles to go.
With best wishes,
Phil