l to r- Dr Andrew Peet (Birmingham Children's Hospital) David Strudley (Acorns Hospice) Phil Riley (brmb) Georgina Moseley

brmb’s Birmingham Walkathon will this year be renamed “Walk for Harry” in memory of, and as a tribute to, local boy Harry Moseley, who sadly died from cancer aged 11 years in October 2011.

The Walk for Harry event will take place on Sunday, May 13th and will raise money for two charities closely connected to Harry. Funds will be split between the brain tumour research project at Birmingham Children’s Hospital, led by Harry’s consultant Dr. Andrew Peet, and the refurbishment of Acorns Children’s Hospice in Selly Oak where Harry spent a few days until he passed away.

Harry, from Sheldon in Birmingham, was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour at the age of seven, but despite being ill, he tirelessly raised funds for Cancer Research, setting up the Help Harry Help Others campaign, making and selling bracelets to raise funds and awareness. 

brmb’s Walkathons have in the past two years, raised £650,000 for QE and Birmingham Children’s Hospitals, and this year’s event, aims to recruit ten thousand listeners to pull on their walking boots and tackle the 26 mile route around the outer perimeter of the city. 

Commenting on “Walk for Harry”, brmb’s Chief Executive, Phil Riley said;
“We are very proud that working closely with Georgina Moseley, Birmingham Children’s Hospital and Acorns we are able to stage “Walk for Harry”. This event will not only raise significant funds for both causes but it will also demonstrate how special Harry was to the people of Birmingham.  brmb listeners have, through the years, shown their generosity and commitment to raising funds for locally based charities that specifically support local people. “Walk for Harry” will not only be a fun and exciting day but will, I am sure, reinforce our belief that as a community we literally are prepared to go that extra mile to help others.”
 

Harry’s Mum, Georgina Moseley said;
“Harry spent the last two years of his life helping others and it was his dream that Birmingham would be proud of him. Last year he planned to approach brmb to request for their annual walk to be in aid of his causes. Now the Walk for Harry is taking place in 2012 is incredible. 

“I hope that everyone in Birmingham –even those who have never used Birmingham Children’s Hospital or Acorns Children’s Hospice will be inspired to get involved. We, like most families out there, thought it would never happen to us, but it did and we lost our beautiful boy.

“Everyone should get involved and support these wonderful services as you just never know if you are going to need them one day. I hope everyone in the city unites for this event and we can show the rest of the country how Birmingham supports each other.“

On behalf of Acorns Children’s Hospice, David Strudley commented;
“When the hospice in Selly Oak opened in 1988, it was only the third children’s hospice in the world. Since then, Acorns has provided care and support to hundreds of local children and families, offering a real lifeline to the community.

“Nearly 25 years on, the hospice is starting to show its age and is very much in need of a facelift that we simply can’t fund in the current economic climate.

“The Walk for Harry will allow us to update all of the children’s bedrooms, upgrade the facilities and generally create an improved environment that the children and families deserve.”

Louise McCathie, Head of Fundraising at Birmingham Children’s Hospital said;
“We are so pleased to be working with brmb for a second year running and honoured to be part of the Walk for Harry in tribute to such a special boy. He touched the lives of all those who knew him across the hospital and beyond. We hope the people of Birmingham will be out in force to support this very worthy cause and the crucial research work that is done here.”

Details on how to take part in Walk for Harry can be found at www.brmb.co.uk