Man who raised £100k for charity since cancer diagnosis to take on 588-mile walk
Paul Dennington's "March Through Life" will see him stroll 588 miles over 36 days
Last updated 3rd Aug 2025
A man who has raised £100,000 for charity since his terminal cancer diagnosis is set to take on a 588-mile walking challenge.
Paul Dennington's "March Through Life" will see him stroll 588 miles over 36 days from North Shields to Hempstead Valley, near his home town, Gillingham, marking milestone moments from his 59 years.
Mr Dennington, who has raised more than £100,000 and awareness for Prostate Cancer UK since his diagnosis in February 2021, wants to fund research and a screening programme to help others.
He said: "When I was diagnosed it felt surreal as I didn't have symptoms and thought I was pretty fit and healthy. I did feel guilt, though, as it was my body that was the reason my family were going to have to go through this journey.
"When I started fundraising, I thought I might raise up to £5,000 but it kind of took off. It has become a great source of positive focus, and I've met so many wonderful and generous people along the way. For this challenge I wanted to do something different and big that would grab attention, would encourage donations, be physically challenging and would be personally poignant for my fifth year.
"With the amazing support of my wife in particular, family and friends, I want to raise awareness of the cancer, its risks, drive testing and raise valuable funds to support those going through this terrible experience, to create a screening programme and for vital research.
"I want to help prevent other men and their families from going through the same journey as mine and to give hope to those who already are."
He will set off from his place of birth in North Shields on Sunday, and the opening day will see him visit his first house, his former infant and junior school and will end at St James' Park, home to his boyhood football club, Newcastle United.