Danny walks tall on York’s Bar Walls (From York Press)
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Danny walks tall on York’s Bar Walls
7:58am Monday 11th July 2011 in News
Antonia Aitken, her son, Danny, and his grandad, John Houston, walk the Bar Walls
A SCHOOLBOY was joined by his grandfather who is suffering from cancer in a fundraising walk around York’s Bar Walls.
Danny Aitken, 12, of Beckfield Lane in Acomb, walked the length of the city walls five times to raise money for The Prostate Cancer Charity after learning his grandfather was battling the condition.
Danny’s mum, Antonia, said that when he heard her father had the cancer, he asked what he could do, so she suggested he raise money for charity.
His grandfather, John Houston, 65, travelled to York from Northern Ireland to join his grandson.
Danny, who attends Manor School, has asthma, but walked the 13-mile route in six hours, accompanied by his friends and family.
He said his grandfather walked most of the route with him. “He was very proud and my mum was also very proud. Loads and loads of people gave us money.”
Friends of York Walls also supported them, providing a water stop at the Robin Hood Tower.
More than £1,000 was collected from residents and tourists on the walls, but the cash is still being counted.
Visit justgiving.com/Antonia-Aitken to donate to Danny’s cause.
A credit to York
DANNY Aitken suffers from severe asthma.
The 12-year-old from Acomb wasn’t going to let that stand in his way when he learned his granddad, John Houston, had cancer.
He pledged to walk five times around York’s historic city walls – about 13 miles in all – to raise cash for the Prostate Cancer Charity.
And on Saturday – joined by his granddad and other family and friends for at least part of the walk – he did just that.
It was just something he felt he had to do, the Manor School pupil said before setting out – not just for his granddad but for other people with cancer too.
Well done Danny. You’re a credit to this city.
