A walking campaign set up to fill the void left by this year's cancelled Tour de Yorkshire has beaten an ambitious fundraising target within days.

Welcome to Yorkshire and Yorkshire Cancer Research launched the Tour de Walkshire on May 1 with the aim of raising £50,000 during the month.

Within five days, and with three weeks still go, supporters have smashed the target, leading event organisers to raise it to £75,000.

The fund donations will help support life-changing research by Yorkshire Cancer Research, the official charity partner of Welcome to Yorkshire’s #Walkshire initiative

Thousands of people have already donated, while many have already signed up to the Tour de Walkshire.

Multi-award-winning actor and proud Yorkshireman, Sir Patrick Stewart, tweeted from LA to his 3.6m followers: “This fundraiser will make my beloved Yorkshire even lovelier.”

Further fundraisers have signed up from across the world, including California and Iowa in the US, as well as Austria, Germany and London.

People can still get involved in the Tour de Walkshire, whether by walking, cycling, running or pushing, covering any distance, throughout May.

https://join.yorkshirecancerresearch.org.uk/event/tour-de-walkshire-2021/home

If the new £75,000 target is reached it could fund 150 lung health checks, helping to save lives by finding cancer at the earliest possible stage.

It could provide personalised cancer exercise programmes for 225 people, helping to improve treatment and reduce the risk of cancer returning.

The money could connect as many as 4,500 extra people with essential screening services, which help prevent cancer by identifying cells which will become cancerous if not treated, and finding cancers early when they are far easier to treat.

Juliet Glendinning, of Yorkshire Cancer Research, said: “It’s been amazing to see so many people, from all walks of life and all parts of the county, getting active, clocking up the miles and enjoying the beautiful scenery we have here in Yorkshire.

"We are immensely grateful to each and every person who has dedicated time and effort to raising funds to help save lives in Yorkshire – sometimes battling heavy rain and hail to reach their goal and inspire more sponsorship.

“We’re thrilled that this incredible Tour de Walkshire community has managed to reach and exceed the charity’s initial £50,000 fundraising target in such a short space of time. The money raised will help fund experts and world-leading researchers who pioneer early cancer diagnosis, reduce cancer risk and discover new and better treatments for cancer patients.”

WTY chief executive James Mason said: “It’s fantastic that in just five days the Tour de Walkshire’s month-long fundraising target of £50,000 for Yorkshire Cancer Research has already been smashed and it’s all thanks to so many fabulous folk connected to Yorkshire. The next ‘step’ is to reach £75,000 and to have an even bigger impact on treating those diagnosed with cancer. Come on Yorkshire … and beyond … we can do it.

"As this month’s annual Tour de Yorkshire cycling race had to be postponed until 2022 due to the pandemic, we wanted to create an inclusive and exciting event to bring people together (following government guidelines of course) in the great outdoors, to encourage fitness and well-being, fundraise and also raise essential awareness for an amazing charity, plus showcase our breathtaking county.

"The Tour de Walkshire is the perfect way to do this and will be fun for all this month, raising vital funds for Yorkshire Cancer Research, the outstanding official charity partner of Welcome to Yorkshire.