Ex-millionaire’s walk around UK and Ireland for cancer patients

Ex-millionaire’s walk around UK and Ireland for cancer patients

17 April 2019

A BIG-HEARTED former millionaire has praised local people’s generosity as being “in a different league” to the rest of UK as he walked along the Co Down shoreline last week on an epic charity trek.

Brian Burnie is on a 7,000 mile walking challenge around the island of Ireland and Great Britain to highlight the need for free cancer patient transport.

He left his home in Newcastle-upon-Tyne last March in order to raise funds for the charity, Daft as a Brush Cancer Patient Care.

Mr Burnie told the Recorder that he was overwhelmed with both the donations from local people as well as the beauty of the country, particularly the Mourne Mountains. 

Brian, who is 74 and has Parkinson’s Disease, visited Downpatrick over the weekend and marvelled at Down Cathedral.

He said: “What a beautiful building you have and I didn’t realise how stunning the Mourne Mountains were. I just don’t think they are promoted well enough.

“I can say that the people of this island, north and south, are hands down in a different league to England, Scotland and Wales, no disrespect, for their generosity and support for charities like ours.

“I think it must be something to do with them being so chatty and friendly and we have been really welcomed wherever we go.”

Brian is famous throughout the UK for giving away all of his wealth more than 10 years ago as a thank you for his former wife recovering from cancer.

He went from owning a £16m country mansion to living in a small house but this change of life priorities encouraged him into founding the Daft as a Brush charity. It provides 40,000 cancer patient journeys annually by 350 volunteers.

While his charity’s service is not offered here, Brian will be soon meeting with the head of the Cancer Centre at the Belfast City Hospital to see how it can be introduced. 

He is being supported by his new wife Cheryl and several other members from the charity as he aims to walk 15-20 miles each day, depending on the weather and his own physical condition.

“I fully admit I have struggled at times, but chatting to people I meet and the support from my wife Cheryl really keeps me motivated and determined,” he said.

“We’re arranging appointments with oncologists and radiographers in Ireland to discuss the charity’s services and possible integration in the region. One thing I’ve heard so many times on the walk, is that patients struggle with transport to and from hospital on a daily basis. In the North East of England we’re part of their journey to recovery so let’s bring the free service to patients all over Great Britain and Ireland.”

The couple arrived in Dublin aboard the Stena Line Adventurer last week and planned to travel anti-clockwise towards Belfast.

Brian and his wife have been living on a converted double decker bus called Bluebell which is currently in Dublin having some maintenance work carried out.  

Both have been impressed at how they have been welcomed and supported everywhere they have gone in 3,000 miles so far.

“People here have been so generous and they often stop me to have a chat and it’s been absolutely fantastic,” said Brian.

“We had hardly been 10 minutes on the Strangford ferry when the captain had a whip-round with the crew and gave us £50 and I didn’t even ask him.”

Brian’s has raised £125,000 so far and has pledged that any donation collected locally will be spent locally.

His aim is create one million free cancer patient journeys nationwide. To find out more about Brian’s journey visit www.BluebellBus.org.uk.