Friends sail around Britain for cancer charity

The group will set off from Whitby Harbour this week

A cancer survivor, his teenage son and two friends are about to begin a 2,500-mile (4,023 km) journey around the coast of Britain to raise money for a Yorkshire charity.

Mark Cosgrove, who has recovered from bladder cancer, will be joined by 17-year-old Alfie and crewmates Graham Crowther and Eugene Campbell, both 62, for the expedition they have named Voyage for Hope.

The sailors, from South Yorkshire, will set off from Whitby Harbour on 2 June and will donate their sponsorship to Weston Park Cancer Charity in Sheffield.

Their 30ft yacht, Brierli, will take around three weeks to navigate the mainland, with several stops along the way.

Mark, who runs a photographic agency, has also lost his mother-in-law to cancer, and is still "fatigued" from his own treatment.

He said: “I was actually on my boat when we got the call that my wife’s mum’s condition had worsened. When I saw the care and compassion that the staff at Weston Park showed, I knew I had to do something.”

'It won’t be easy'

The crew will head south from Whitby, passing Plymouth and Eastbourne before sailing north to Scotland.

The last of five legs will take them from Fraserburgh back to Whitby. Their fundraising target is £10,000.

Mark, who is the official club photographer for Barnsley FC, added: “It won’t be easy. It’s quite a challenge anyway, but I’ve not been well. I have flare-ups now and again.”

Supporters are encouraged to send messages which will be attached to the hull of the yacht. These can be dedicated to the memory of a loved one or to someone currently being treated for cancer.

The charity's fundraising manager Sam Heritage said: “We are with Mark, Alfie, Graham and Eugene every step of the way as they embark on this journey. We can’t wait to wave them off at Whitby and on behalf of everyone at Weston Park Cancer Charity, a huge thank you to them for their commitment."

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