Super-slimmer’s charity challenge

Charity walkers (from the left) Chris Hoyle, Charlie Walduck, Mark Rowlands and Graham Hobbs

A FAILSWORTH man who lost 30 stone in two years is set to tackle his biggest challenge yet.

Charlie Walduck turned his life around when he shed the enormous amount of weight to reveal a new slim figure three years ago, and embarked on a fitness regime to rival the fittest.

He has taken part in several runs and charity walks, but next week plans to tackle a daunting back-to-back challenge — taking on the Great North Run just 24 hours after completing a gruelling 190-mile coast-to-coast walk.

Charlie is joining forces with three other men in a bid to raise £5,000 for Oldham Cancer Support Centre — but only Charlie (42) and Mark Rowlands (43) will tackle both the run and walk.

Joining them on the walk will be Chris Hoyle (52), founder of Oldham Cancer Support Centre, and Saddleworth businessman Graham Hobbs.

Chris is fighting his own personal battle against leukaemia — the reason behind him setting up Oldham Cancer Support Centre, which aims to plug the gaps in the support offered by the health service.

The four will set out on their cross-country walk next Monday and will return in time to give Charlie and Mark a day to recover before they run the world’s biggest half-marathon.

Charlie said: “| have lost a few good friends and relatives to cancer, and I met Chris a few years ago and was so impressed by him and what he has done that I wanted to do something to help.

“When I was trying to lose weight I know how much I was helped by support and encouragement.

“I think that is perhaps the most important thing for anyone facing a challenge. Oldham Cancer Support Centre offers the same kind of support and encouragement to people with cancer, away from doctor’s surgeries, and Chris works 80 hours a week to keep it going.”

Charlie, who has already raised £15,000 for leukaemia research, will also tackle the challenge in memory of a work colleague, Sue Yates, who died from breast cancer.