EurotaxGlass’s President treks to Snowdon summit for cancer care

On Saturday (21 June) Kevin Gaskell, President of automotive data firm EurotaxGlass’s, led a sponsored trek up Snowdon to raise funds for cancer care. The trek was preceded by a celebratory event to mark the start of construction of a new antibody suite for the treatment of cancer patients at Glan Clwyd Hospital, Rhyl, North Wales.

Gaskell has single-handedly raised a significant proportion of the funds for the Glan Clwyd Hospital construction project himself, including £80,000 in sponsorship money after walking unsupported to the geographic North Pole in April 2006. He was inspired to help cancer sufferers and their families after losing his sister to the disease following a period of treatment at the hospital.

Gaskell and his 17 year old son, Matt Gaskell, used Snowdon Rocks 2 as a valuable training exercise, each pulling a ‘sledge’ to the top of the mountain in preparation for a trek to the South Pole, which will take place next year to raise more money for cancer research. If successful, Matt will become the youngest person ever to have reached the South Pole unsupported.

Many of those involved in Saturday’s event – including patients, doctors, nurses and supporters – hiked to the summit for ‘Snowdon Rocks 2’, a special acoustic concert to raise awareness and funding for local cancer care. The concert was performed by Mike Peters, internationally acclaimed singer of Welsh rock and roll band ‘The Alarm’. Peters is a two-time cancer survivor and, like Gaskell, has been raising funds to fight the disease.

The concert, aptly named ‘Snowdon Rocks 2’, followed the success of last year’s pioneering music event, promoted through the LOVE HOPE STRENGTH Foundation, a charity formed by Peters to raise awareness and funding for cancer care both locally and globally.

“It has been an incredible journey so far, and finally we can see the results of everyone’s hard work in the realisation of a new hospital unit to improve cancer care in North Wales,” said Gaskell.

“Our thanks go to everyone who has taken part in the charity walk, as well as those who have donated sponsorship money. It will make a significant difference to those affected by cancer.”

Both Gaskell and Peters will continue to support both hospitals with a series of worldwide events that will continue throughout 2008.

Visit southpole2009.com to sponsor or find out more information about Kevin and Matt Gaskell’s expedition to the South Pole next year.

See lovehopestrengthfoundation.co.uk for more details about upcoming charitable events led by Mike Peters.