Mission in brave Tyler's memory

The parents of a brave schoolboy who battled brain tumours are taking part in a massive physical challenge to support the charity that helped them.
Pam Yates, who will be walking 36 miles in memory of her brave son TylerPam Yates, who will be walking 36 miles in memory of her brave son Tyler
Pam Yates, who will be walking 36 miles in memory of her brave son Tyler

Pam and Alex Yates, from Leigh, will walk 36 miles on Saturday from Blackpool to Bury.

They are tackling the long walk in honour of their 13-year-old son Tyler, who died in November after battling brain tumours for most of his life.

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The couple are raising money for the Joshua Wilson Brain Tumour Charity, which has supported the family in many ways.

Pam met Joshua’s mother Dawn when both boys were in hospital and she has now thrown herself into supporting the charity.

She said: “It’s given me something to leave the house for. I have not managed to go back to work yet and at home I think about Tyler, so this has given me something positive to work for and it’s why I’m determined to do the miles.

“It is a little bit of discomfort for me when I know what my son and others have gone through.”

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The pair will join 53 other people for the walk and expect to take around 12 hours to complete it.

Pam said: “I’m a bit nervous. I have done a couple of 20k walks and ended up with sciatica.

“I’m hoping to walk it and get it sorted. I have been doing quite a lot of training.”

They have already smashed their fund-raising target and are continuing to collect donations for the charity as the walk approaches.

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Pam said: “I would like to raise as much as possible. I have set a target of £1,000 but I have gone over that so I’m aiming for £2,000.

“I found out recently that the charity spends £1,000 a month for families to have counselling to help them work through being diagnosed and the trauma and what happens therein. Families can get pulled apart by being diagnosed and having someone professional can help.”

During Tyler’s illness, the charity provided several grants for the Yates family, which helped with hospital parking charges and petrol during his treatment, a new cooker and adaptations to their bathroom to make it easier for him to use.

Pam said: “It’s an amazing charity that does help people that are unfortunately thrown into circumstances they are not expecting.

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“The charity doesn’t just help in one way, they have 100 different ways that they can help and nothing is too small. They will help as much as they can.”To sponsor Pam and Alex, go to uk.virginmoneygiving.com/PamelaYates77