Eric’s Iceland Super-Trek for Cancer Relief

University of Teesside tutor Eric Smalley is proving age is no barrier to exercise and fundraising because at the age of 62, he is planning a 140km trek in Iceland – all in aid of Macmillan Cancer Relief!

Eric, a Programme Support Tutor for Graduate Apprentices at the University's Centre for Lifelong Learning, is heading to Iceland in July for the super-trek, one of the toughest and most challenging walking tours possible. He is aiming to raise an incredible £8,000 and is appealing for help.

Eric, who is also the Secretary of the Stockton-on-Tees branch of Macmillan Cancer Relief, said: "Macmillan Cancer Relief provides an essential service for thousands of people throughout the UK and the money raised on this trip will be used to provide specialist cancer care training for local nurses and doctors. I hope people will support me in this endeavour and we can raise enough money to help seriously ill patients have a better quality of life."

So far, Eric has received over £500, including an incredible £200 cheque from the children taking part in Meteor (the University's scheme to encourage primary school children to see Higher Education as a future option) with another £1,000 pledged.

A keen fell-walker for over 20 years, Eric's fundraising project is part of a wider scheme to raise £150,000 for Macmillan Cancer Relief. £250,000 has already been raised during the past two years in the Tees Valley region

To contact Eric to pledge money, email: e.smalley@tees.ac.uk, or call 01642 801907.

For further information on Macmillan Cancer Relief and Eric's trek, visit: www.macmillan-tees.co.uk

One of Eric's more unusual methods of raising money has been to send people a tube of Smarties, and asking them to fill it up with 20 pence pieces! With a Smarties tube holding about £15 worth of 20p's, this has been a fun and effective fundraiser.

Macmillan Cancer Relief Registered Charity Number 261017

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