Thirteen friends have helped raise more than £4,600 for a classmate diagnosed with a serious medical condition.
Friends of 15-year-old Jack Musgrave, who has Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, stepped out in aid of the Ullswater Community College pupil last Saturday with a sponsored walk.
Setting off just after 7am, the group defied wet weather all afternoon to complete 21 miles around the Ullswater Way, starting and finishing at Pooley Bridge.
As daylight began to fail at around 4pm, they were clapped home by onlookers who had gathered on the bridge at Pooley. Those cheering included Jack and his mum Linda Hebson, of Little Salkeld, with hugs and handshakes aplenty for the returning boys.
To raise awareness of the walk, pupils Giorgio Cardia and Ashton Harkness had addressed a round of assemblies in the countdown to setting off. The original fundraising target on Go Fund Me was £1,000, but that was soon quadrupled as word spread and more than 300 donations flooded in.
These included anonymous donations and even contributions from people who do not know Jack, as well as from former school pupils touched by his story.
Among those taking part in Saturday’s trek was Alfie Hulme, aged 15, of Clifton, who plays football with Jack for Calthwaite-U16s.
Alfie’s mum, Jo, praised the group’s determination to push ahead without putting it off for a day when the weather could have been kinder.
Jo said: “They have all been friends since starting at secondary school and the boys all came up with it together and wanted to raise some money and do something nice for Jack, who is a very lovely, down to earth lad.
“Obviously, all the parents are immensely proud as they decided to do it themselves and got everybody organised and set up the Go Fund Me Page.”
A number of parents walked with the group or kept an eye out for them en route. Ast Signs Ltd of Penrith, kindly donated specially-made bibs bearing the slogan Mission Musgrave. Ullswater campsite provided refreshments and Chestnut House, Pooley Bridge, served up cakes and drinks at the end.
The friends taking part were Giorgio Cardia, Alex Watson, Jack Brier, Archie Cleasby, Ashton Harkness, Alfie Hulme, Dylan Stevenson, Spencer Davidson, Jake Mattinson, Kenzie Radcliffe, Harry Bibby, Rob Sisson and Oscar Smith.
The walk is the latest of many fundraising efforts in support of Jack and his family.
To donate visit www.gofundme.com/f/musgraves-mission
