Our wonderful Dad & all round fantastic chap Charles MacDonald Kelly passed away in Airedale Hospital on 13 September 2022. My Dad was my hero (and to many others too) and the shining light in so many peoples lives. We are all absolutely broken after losing him & words cannot describe the hole he has left in our hearts. My Dad touched so many peoples lives in nothing but a positive, enriching way and he will be missed every single day. 

My Dad was one of the lucky ones - he never stayed in a Hospice or a care home during his 10 months living with his diagnosis of bowel cancer. However, Manorlands Hospice (a Sue Ryder charity) gave my Dad and his wonderful wife Kim a lot of support during this time, and although he did not physically stay at Manorlands, they are so worthy of any pennies I manage to raise.

I am setting off on Monday 15th May from my Dad's house in Ilkley and walking the entire "Dales Way" (82 miles) which will take me 5 days in total, to the beautiful Lake District, after which I will then run Windermere Marathon that Sunday on the 21st May after just one days rest. Eeeeek!  

This is the second Marathon I will have run, the first being over a decade ago (when I was a lot younger and fitter). My dear father was waiting for me at the finish line to wave me in after running 26 miles- he then had to carry me to York Train station to get back home, as my feet swelled up so much I could not walk ha ha!

If anyone wants to come support me on any of the daily gruelling walks or cheer me on from the side-lines whilst I run Windermere Marathon it would be so nice to see friendly faces. The Lake District is a place which will always be very special to the Kelly family - most of our summers were spent on rocks and lakes around this area, either rock climbing, swimming or being generally super adventurous thanks to my Dads confidence evoking attitude. 

I am so proud of him and every aspect of his life - even the way he dealt with his cancer diagnosis. He was great at literally everything and all I ever wanted to do was please him and make him proud. 

I miss you so much Dad. I hope you’ll be looking down on me from those mountains on 21 May laughing at how red faced and knackered I am, after walking all the way to the Lakes from your house. I am doing it for you. And I’d do it a hundred times again if it gave us more time to enjoy you again. I love you forever xxxx 

If anyone wants to join me on my epic walk to the Lakes here is my itinerary:

Monday 15 May 2023

Ilkley to Grassington 

(16 miles, 26km)

Tuesday 16 May 2023

Grassington to Buckden

(12.5 miles, 20km)

Wednesday 17 May 2023

Buckden to Dent 

(20 miles, 32km) 

Thursday 18 May 2023

Dent to Burneside  

(21 miles, 34km)

Friday 19 May 2023

Burneside to Windermere 

(9 miles, 16km) 

Saturday 20 May - REST

Sunday 21 May - WINDERMERE MARATHON