People in Doncaster invited to walk 35,000 miles for life-saving cancer research in Yorkshire

ExCo

The charity’s 2026 We Walk for Yorkshire challenge invites people from across the region to lace up their walking boots and step out for the 35,000 people in Yorkshire who are told they have cancer every year.

Every mile counts and every pound raised will help find new and better ways to prevent, detect and treat cancer - for people in Yorkshire now, and in the future.

Taking part in We Walk for Yorkshire is a way to boost wellbeing and explore Yorkshire’s great outdoors while supporting vital research and innovative cancer services, so more people in the region can live longer, healthier lives, free of cancer.

In Doncaster, 2,055 people are told they have cancer every year, and sadly, 883 people die. As Yorkshire’s cancer charity, Yorkshire Cancer Research exists to change this. The charity is funding £75 million of cancer research and services, giving 182,000 people in Yorkshire the opportunity to take part in ground-breaking cancer breakthroughs and progress.

Whether it’s one big hike, a stroll around the local town or 15 minutes of activity each day, people can choose how far, how often and where they want to walk, making the challenge suitable for all lifestyles and fitness levels.

People can sign up to We Walk for Yorkshire on the charity’s website, choose their challenge and set up their fundraising page to share with others.

We Walk for Yorkshire also aims to raise awareness of the importance of exercise in helping to prevent and treat cancer.

Growing global evidence shows regular activity can increase cancer survival, improve recovery from treatment and reduce the risk of some cancers coming back. Exercise has also been shown to help people better tolerate side effects and improve mental wellbeing.

Underpinned by well-established scientific evidence is Active Together, the pioneering cancer exercise treatment service funded by Yorkshire Cancer Research and designed by Sheffield Hallam University’s Advanced Wellbeing Research Centre to help people prepare for and recover from cancer treatment. Having supported over 3,000 people with cancer, Yorkshire Cancer Research is currently rolling out the service throughout the region, so more people can benefit from the life-changing benefits of personalised research-backed cancer exercise treatment.

For Simon Twigge from Sheffield, walking for Yorkshire is a way to give back for the pioneering cancer exercise support he received through Active Together.

In December 2024, Simon was diagnosed with head and neck cancer. He was quickly referred for surgery to remove the cancer, after which he received seven rounds of radiotherapy followed by chemotherapy. Despite the swift treatment, Simon unfortunately experienced a lot of discomfort due to difficulties with swallowing and eating.

As well as being forced to give up playing his beloved French horn, Simon’s cancer treatment resulted in him losing nearly 20kg and he was required to use a feeding tube.

Simon said: “I did the exercises they gave me to help with swallowing, but eating was still very unpleasant and food tasted horrible. What I also struggled with was being unable to do my usual fitness routine. As an avid walker, I like to track my steps and activity on my fitness tracker. During treatment, I couldn’t walk as far and lost a lot of strength, although thankfully I managed to keep up some walking.”

To help him prepare for surgery and recover from treatment, Simon took part in the Active Together service in Sheffield, where he was given a personalised cancer exercise treatment plan along with tailored nutritional and wellbeing support.

Simon continued: “After surgery, I had lost a lot of strength, especially in my upper body. The Active Together sessions really helped me build back this strength while maintaining my cardiovascular fitness. Within weeks, I was seeing a huge difference. After just two sessions, I was itching to get out again and able to start my longer walks.”

Thanks to pioneering cancer exercise treatment, Simon is back to playing the French horn, eating the foods he couldn’t enjoy during treatment and regularly taking long walks in Yorkshire. Having experienced the powerful benefits of research-backed cancer exercise treatment, he has signed up to this year’s We Walk for Yorkshire challenge, setting himself the ambitious goal of 15,000 steps a day.

Simon will also mark a special milestone in May – his 60th birthday – by taking on The Yorkshire Three Peaks with his friends, who supported him throughout his cancer treatment.

Simon concluded: “Walking got me through my cancer treatment and became a daily reminder that I was getting stronger once again, so the We Walk for Yorkshire campaign holds a special place in my heart. The work of Yorkshire Cancer Research helped me get back to walking in the beautiful Yorkshire countryside and for that, I’ll be forever grateful.”

Dr Kathryn Scott, chief executive at Yorkshire Cancer Research said: “Whether the aim is to take on a personal challenge, walk with colleagues, cheer on friends and family, or support the cause for a loved one affected by cancer, every pound raised through We Walk for Yorkshire 2026 will help bring pioneering cancer research to people in our region.

“Through the ground-breaking research and services it funds, Yorkshire Cancer Research is leading the way in cancer exercise treatment, helping to increase survival, improve recovery and reduce the risk of cancer coming back. We Walk for Yorkshire’gives everyone the chance to experience the huge benefits that being active and exploring the Yorkshire countryside brings – for physical health, mental wellbeing and more time with loved ones. Every mile clocked brings us closer to a Yorkshire free from cancer.”

Join the We Walk for Yorkshire 2026 challenge and help save lives in Yorkshire: ycr.org.uk/wewalkforyorkshire