Cancer-hit friendship group in charity push

Four of the group have been diagnosed with cancer in recent years

A group of fathers from Etwall have launched a £50,000 fundraising campaign after four members of their close-knit circle were diagnosed with cancer.

The 12 dads first met through their children's school but between 2019 and 2023, a third of the group received different cancer diagnoses.

Derek Walton died in 2020 aged 52 before Andy Preston, 56, and Chris Hunt, 68, were diagnosed with the disease in 2022 - though both are now cancer-free - while Julian Hall, 58, was diagnosed with stage four incurable cancer in 2023.

Members of the group have planned four different fundraising events for charities and causes close to their hearts.

'Really meaningful'

So far, the group has raised £15,000 and plans to donate the funds to Macmillan Cancer Support, Blood Cancer UK and to Mr Walton's daughter Becca, who needs help to fund her dreams of becoming a javelin thrower.

Mr Preston decided to nominate Blood Cancer UK after benefiting from the charity's research and Mr Hall said "there is a pretty good chance" he will need support from Macmillan for his end-of-life care.

One of the four fundraising events has already been completed, when group members taking part in a 42-mile (67.6km) walk across the Yorkshire Moors on 21 June.

This will be followed by a skydive on 4 October at Langar Airfield in Nottingham along with a charity dinner and a golf day, both taking place in 2026.

Mr Hall told the BBC he felt it was important to have friends who wee willing to help achieve the £50,000 goal.

"It becomes really meaningful to the three of us that are alive," said Mr Hall.

"The eight others in the 12 support us hugely not just in terms of fundraising with us, but emotionally as well.

"We'll have a hell of a party when we do reach the £50k goal.

"I use the word 'when' and not 'if' because we will achieve it, there's no doubt about that."

Julian Hall said he has a "positive" relationship with his terminal cancer diagnosis

Mr Hall, founder of an emotional resilience company, said he was now trying help people "enjoy their cancer journeys more."

"If I accept it fully then I'm not fighting it, and if I'm not fighting it then I can enjoy life more," he said.

Apart from having a colostomy bag on his left hand side, he said he does not feel like he has cancer.

"The nurse said I'm young, fit and strong so I could be here in 10 years," he said.

"The treatments I'm going through at the moment are all designed to hold off the cancer as long as possible and buy me time. It's fantastic.

"My prognosis never leaves me but I make a choice every day to enjoy my life and that's what I do. I'm very accepting of what is going to happen to me."

Mr Hall said he has a "wonderful" group of friends

However, Mr Hall admits he is devestated he cannot join Andy for the charity skydive in October.

"I wanted to skydive but my oncologist refuses to let me," he said.

Instead, his youngest daughter, Antonia, has volunteered in his place despite having a fear of flying.

"For her to volunteer to go up in a small aeroplane and jump out of it is massive. I'm tremendously proud of her," he said.

Feeling confident

Mr Hall also emphasized the importance of men opening up about their emotions, especially when dealing with illness.

"I've got a wonderful group of supportive friends who I know will do anything for me, and I'd do anything for them," he said.

"Some of them don't talk about the cancer, while others openly ask how I'm doing.

"I've got a good mix of people to interact with on different levels."

With the support of his friends, Mr Hall is confident the £50,000 target will be reached.

"We think, with these events, we can hit the target. If we don't, we'll find another way to reach it," he said.