12-year-old and her granddad raise nearly £5,000 with charity walk – despite being 300 miles apart

Lottie Cooper, from Haslemere, and her granddad Ray Hall, 75, from Hexham in Northumberland, completed their two-mile walk for the Pancreatic Cancer Research Fund on Sunday.

Lottie completed her walk with her family in the field attached to their house while Ray – who was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in September – completed his two miles in stages throughout the day in his back garden.

Lottie said: “Grandpa is an amazing person and he’s being so brave and positive. We’re all very proud of him.”

The idea for the fundraiser came about from a school biology project which Lottie did on pancreatic cancer.

She said: “When I was doing my research, I found out that there is no test that can diagnose pancreatic cancer early, and if there was, it would have given Grandpa a chance of being cured.

“Then I discovered that an early detection test was being developed by Pancreatic Cancer Research Fund.

“That’s when I decided to raise money to help them because a test will make a big difference in helping other people in the future.”

Lottie’s mum Nikki said: “Lottie and dad share a birthday – October 22 – so they’ve always had a special connection. She’s a very thoughtful granddaughter and she knows that this fundraiser is not just raising money for research into this devastating disease, it is also helping her Grandma and Grandpa to feel connected to us during this lockdown period.

“The timing of dad’s illness is terribly difficult because we want to spend precious time with him but he has to isolate. It’s given us all something positive we can do together, even though we’re so far away – and it’s really giving dad a boost. Both he and Lottie love seeing the messages on the JustGiving pages from everyone!”

Lottie’s fundraising plans have been supported by her school, Prior’s Field in Surrey, which has been helping to spread the word locally, and Ray’s friends in Hexham are also taking part as well as friends and family in London, Spain, Dubai and Australia.

Lottie originally hoped to raise £200 by asking people to donate a minimum of £2 to join in the walk – but she has now raised nearly £5,000.

Maggie Blanks, chief executive of Pancreatic Cancer Research Fund, said: “We’ve loved hearing about Lottie’s fantastic and inventive fundraiser and the money she raises will help us to progress our work to develop a test as quickly as possible.”

To donate to Lottie and Ray’s fundraiser visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/walktogether4pancreaticcancerresearch

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