Charity walkers from a community group that helps to feed struggling families were fuelled by human kindness as they battled the elements to walk from Preston to Liverpool, quadrupling the target they had set themselves to raise.

Prior to lockdown and in pouring rain and strong winds, an 11-strong team from the Preston Here for Humanity project walked 32 miles from Rosemere Cancer Centre at the Royal Preston Hospital to Liverpool’s Alder Hey Children’s Hospital.

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Their aim was to raise around £1,200 to be split between Rosemere Cancer Foundation and the family of a Blackburn toddler called Carson Adams, who was born with holes in his heart and his heart on the wrong of side of his body.

However, after the final count on Sunday 8 November, it was revealed they had achieved an amazing £5,140.

Group director Chris Murray, who completed the walk, said: “It’s a fantastic total. We are so pleased to be able to give Rosemere Cancer Foundation £2,570 and the same to Carson’s family.

“We are immensely grateful to all the businesses and everyone who supported us so generously.

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“It was a privileged to have been part of the walk team. The highlight was meeting up with Carson’s parents, Amylee and Chris, at Alder Hey, where we shared a glass of champagne with them.”

Preston Here for Humanity was inspired to help Rosemere Cancer Foundation by Chris’ cousin, who is currently undergoing cancer treatment at Rosemere Cancer Centre.

The team decided help three-year-old Carson’s family after it hosted a Blackburn community group called the Shad Chefs, when some of its members walked through Preston en route from Blackburn to Blackpool to help out the family in the summer.

Carson has been a patient at Alder Hey since July, when he was admitted for his third major heart operation. Sadly, Carson is currently in an induced coma after suffering a number of post-surgery setbacks, including sepsis.

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The Preston Here for Humanity walkers, who run a foodbank, provide free holiday lunches for children who would normally receive a free school dinner and offer a meal drop-off service for elderly shielders, were accompanied on their walk by an event support vehicle, supplied for free and driven by Adam Bossons.

They walked with two huge banners bearing the names of 12 local companies, which had each paid £100 to have their names and logos printed on to the banners. When they arrived at Alder Hey, team members were collected and driven back to Preston by a fleet of cars provided for free by Millers Taxis.

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What do you think about the achievement from Preston Here for Humanity? Let us know in the comments below