'Running around London is nothing compared to what those kids go through'

Warren Geraghty is embarking on a personal challenge to raise money for a children's cancer charity.

Children's Cancer and Leukaemia Group (CCLG) is a leading children's cancer charity and the UK and Ireland's professional association for those involved in the treatment and care of children with cancer.

Warren will take part in the London Marathon later this year and hosting other events to raise money for the charity such as an auction dinner at One Aldwych, London. 

So far, £440 has been raised towards the cause.

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He said: “My good friends daughter suffers from a rare form of cancer and CCLG are an incredible support and lifeline for the family. Any money we can raise to eradicate this disease would be greatly appreciated.

Last year, we raised a lot of money for Annika's Challenge and got on to the trial program. We funded that, which was great and then this year I will be running the London Marathon through CCLG.

"How it started was, one of the guys said, 'Let's do a dinner.' Which is easier said than done. You have to find a place anyway. Basically, the shift director at One Aldridge, said: 'Leave it to me.' Within three days, he'd organised the hotel room, staff, everything. And then all the lads were like, 'Yeah, look, we're in. We'll do it for free.' I mean, we've been mates for over 30 years, like we've worked together in restaurants all around the capital.

“It is an amazing opportunity to get back together with my mates and do this dinner and it’s just taken off, we've got like 90 people coming on Tuesday night. We've got an incredible space at One Aldridge, lots of amazing auction prizes. Everyone's donated everything, and hopefully, rather than raising sort of three or four grand, we're going to raise 15-20 grand."

"At the age of nearly 52, it's starting to become more of a challenge. But, you know, running around the streets of London is nothing compared to what kids go through. So that's what sort of makes me think to get on with it."

"I'd be really chuffed if we got to about £15,000. North of £15,000 would be incredible."

Tom Kerridege has also shared his support towards Warren’s challenge, Warren added: “Tom is amazing. He's a huge supporter. Last year, he did a dinner where we went to a donor house. They donated a huge amount of money. This year, he's donated auction prizes. He's given me the chefs to come with me and do it. I mean, he's so generous in his support and genuinely says, 'Anything you need, anything you want, just let me know.' He's brilliant. He's an amazing supporter and one of us a really big supporter of this. For us in this charity, it really helps out."

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"If anyone can donate, then obviously it would mean the world to these children and to the charity. There's a link to my JustGiving page, which obviously goes directly into the Children's Cancer Leukemia Group, which are one of the most for me, family members suffer from cancer, and it's the most horrific and vile diseases we all know.

“But when you see how it affects children and what it does to their families and everyone around them, it destroys not just the poor child's life, but the family's lives and their livelihoods and everything around them.  

“I know it's hard times, and everyone's short of money, but you know, it genuinely does make a difference, and they are an incredible charity who do amazing things and get amazing results, which is the end goal, and children are surviving because of the money raised and the treatments and the trials that they get on."

To buy a ticket to the auction dinner, click here.

To donate to Warren’s cause, click here.

Written by Abi Kinsella