- Month-long relay spans 35 regional locations to represent the 35,000 people diagnosed with cancer in Yorkshire each year.
- Hundreds of thousands of pounds raised to fund life-saving regional cancer research and pioneering exercise services.
- Final baton-bearers include local survivors and dedicated volunteers carrying personal messages of hope.
HARROGATE, UK — The landmark Baton for Yorkshire has officially completed its gruelling 500-mile journey across the region, crossing the final finish line at the Yorkshire Cancer Research centre in Harrogate.As the flagship event for the charity’s We Walk for Yorkshire fundraising campaign, the month-long relay united cancer survivors, dedicated supporters, and leading researchers.
Together, they carried the baton through 35 distinct Yorkshire locations, directly symbolizing the 35,000 people diagnosed with cancer in the region each year.
Throughout its journey across East, South, West, and North Yorkshire, the baton acted as a vessel for hope, carrying personal messages placed inside by local communities in honour of loved ones.
Continuing a Legacy: Phil’s Story (Northallerton to Thirsk)
Among the inspirational baton-bearers on the final North Yorkshire leg was Phil Foxton from Northallerton, who carried the baton in memory of his late mother-in-law, Liz Dunn. Liz was a pioneer for the charity, helping establish its very first shop in Northallerton in the 1990s.
After discovering her old fundraising notebooks following his father-in-law’s passing, Phil decided to follow in her footsteps and has now volunteered at the Northallerton shop for nearly five years.
Phil Foxton said:
Liz faced incredibly limited treatment options when she was diagnosed with late-stage brain cancer, and she sadly passed away in 2005.
My dad also died from cancer. Carrying this baton was my way of honouring them and continuing Liz’s incredible legacy.
The time I volunteer helps fund ground-breaking research right here in our region, like the EPIC-GB clinical trials for brain cancer. Knowing that this research offers the kind of real hope that Liz never had makes every single step worthwhile.
Reclaiming Life Through Medicine: Lisa’s Story (Harrogate)
As the baton entered Harrogate, it was handed to 53-year-old Lisa Sumpton.
Diagnosed with breast cancer, Lisa was devastated when she had to pause her lifelong passion for running.However, after undergoing surgery and chemotherapy, she was referred to Active Together—a pioneering cancer exercise treatment programme fully funded by Yorkshire Cancer Research. The service safely rebuilt her strength, allowing her to remarkably complete the London Marathon.
For this campaign, Lisa smashed her personal target by walking 140 miles throughout the month.
Lisa Sumpton said:
Movement truly is medicine. When I was diagnosed, I didn’t know when I would ever cross a finish line again. Active Together didn’t just help me return to fitness safely; it gave me ‘me’ back.
Holding the Baton for Yorkshire represents exactly how far I’ve come. Not long ago, I was stuck on the sofa unable to walk. Now, I’m back to my active self and incredibly grateful to help fund these vital services for others.
The Grand Finale: Katie’s Story (Garforth to Harrogate)
The honour of crossing the final finish line fell to 57-year-old Katie Hartshorne from Garforth. A mother of two and a primary school educator of 30 years, Katie was diagnosed with myeloma—a type of blood cancer—and underwent a grueling 12-month treatment plan including chemotherapy and a stem cell transplant.
Determined to maintain control, Katie walked hospital corridors and took the stairs whenever possible to preserve her strength.
Following her treatment, she joined the Active Together programme to rebuild her life. Fittingly, she crossed the 500-mile finish line flanked by her close family and Andy, one of the dedicated charity exercise specialists who helped her recover.
Katie Hartshorne said:
I couldn’t control my diagnosis, but I could control how I dealt with it. I took it one day at a time, keeping active even during my toughest hospital stays.
Joining Active Together gave me the confidence and physical strength I desperately needed when treatment ended.
Crossing this finish line surrounded by my family and the team who built me back up is a moment I will never forget. This baton represents the resilience of every single person facing cancer in Yorkshire.
