On Saturday 12 – Sunday 13 April Gareth Holdcroft, Natasha Gaunt, Laura Hughes, Alysha Holmes, Paul Jacques, Laura Cooper, Michelle Stubbs, Marcus Stubbs and Amy Dean will be walking 50 miles along the Trent and Mersey Canal in order to raise money for Alder Hey Children’s Hospital.

The route will begin at China Gardens, Etruria, Stoke on Trent, ST1 5PA (Between Bridge 119 and 118) and will finish at The Ragley Boat Stop, Barrow upon Trent, Derby, DE73 7FY (Between Bridge 18 and 17).

The walk is being done in memory of Olivia Perry who sadly joined the other angels on 10 August 2013. Olivia was a kind hearted and loving 11-year-old girl and was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour 2 years before.

The youngster, who endured months of radiotherapy and chemotherapy, had one of her final wishes granted after staff and pupils at Our Lady & St Werburgh Primary School raised enough money to send the family on holiday to Disneyland Paris. Olivia absolutely adored her seven-year-old brother William and three-year-old sister Harriet, and the reason she wanted to go to Disneyland was so she could take Harriet to meet her favourite characters Pluto and Chip and Dale.

Olivia was a kind-hearted girl who touched so many people's lives. She always thought of others before herself and she had been so strong despite everything she had been through.

No matter how ill she was, she could always raise a smile.

Olivia was nine when she was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour in October 2011. Her parents took her to see the doctors when she started suffering from headaches and nausea which then lead to an MRI Scan.

When the results came back, the doctors confirmed that Olivia had a tumour inside her brain. Although it was benign, it was deep inside so they couldn't operate on it.

Olivia was transferred to Alder Hey Children's Hospital and was put on a course of daily radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

She seemed to cope with the treatment quite well, but a few months later her condition seemed to be deteriorating. Her speech was becoming slurred and the right side of her face dropped. Her legs also became very weak, so it was difficult for her to walk.

However, no matter how she was feeling, Olivia insisted on going to school. She loved her teachers and being with her friends and she hated the fact she had to have so much time off. She just wanted to be normal.

Her parents had always been honest with Olivia straight from the beginning, so when the doctors said there was nothing else they could do, they told Olivia that the doctors couldn't fix the tumour in her brain.

All she asked was 'Does that mean I can't go to school anymore?'

After reading the story of Olivia who lives less than a mile from myself, I knew I had to do something in her memory as I was so touched by her bravery and selflessness even in very difficult circumstances.

I myself had a brain tumour in 2006 at the age of 21; fortunately mine was able to be operated on however I was left with a number of health conditions which include being steroid deficient, having diabetes insipidus, underactive thyroid and being registered as severely sight impaired (to name a few).

I have been training for this walk from mid September to build myself up to it and am now currently in the gym 4 days a week.

When I mentioned I was planning on doing this walk many friends and co-workers were inspired enough to want to join me and we now have a team of 9 of us doing the full walk and many others doing just the first day. 

I would be incredibly grateful if you could sponsor us, every single penny really will help. If you’re unable to do it through the JustGiving page just let me know and I will arrange alternative methods with you.

Thanks in advance!

Gareth Holdcroft