A pair of big-hearted Ellesmere Port men are footslogging it back from London to Ellesmere Port to aid a friend sadly suffering from incurable cancer.

MP Justin Madders is backing the ‘long walk home’ by Thomas Sheils and Alfie Duncan, who set off from London on Friday, September 2, and are due to arrive back in the Port a week later.

The Ellesmere Port and Neston MP is urging local residents to support the 200-mile plus charity challenge intended to raise funds for their friend Claire, a local mum who has sadly had a diagnosis her cancer is no longer treatable.

The men are hoping to raise £5,000 to help Claire and her family make as many memories as they can and ensure every moment together is special.

'Hope the whole town will get behind them'

Mr Madders said: “I am very pleased to support Thomas and Alfie in their fundraising efforts and I hope that the whole town will get behind them and help them to hit their target.

“With the help of local people they can make a real difference to Claire and her family at an extremely difficult time.”

Thomas, speaking before he set off to London, said: “The walk has approached so quickly and luckily everything has gone to plan and things have fit into place. We’ve been lucky to have a few sponsors help us towards accommodation and T-shirts to be made for the walk, we have a party to celebrate when we come home and we have all our friends and family who have helped keep us motivated for the walk.

“Surprisingly I am looking forward to doing the walk as tough as I know it will be.

“Hopefully we will produce some good sponsorship money to pass on to Claire. If I have learnt anything over this period, then it would be that you can’t buy health, with good health you can do anything and that is why we chose to do the walk.”

'A gesture of kindness...can make a huge difference'

Alfie added: “I’m really looking forward to the walk, I know it’s going to be challenging to say the least but the reason for the walk easily outweighs any sort of pain.

“I really hope that our community gets behind us. I believe that if you’re in a position to give a little, and you should want to help someone in need, a gesture of kindness no matter how big or small can make a huge difference.”

Claire is now trying different alternative medicines in order to try and slow the growth down as she is determined to live as long as possible for her daughter Halle, now aged five.

Mr Sheils said: “This is a person whom is loved by loads and carries a smile wherever she goes! We want to do our part.”

He has set up a fundraising page at www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/Alongwalkhome .