South Yorkshire schoolboy takes part in sponsored walk to raise money to fight childhood cancer

Carl James took part in the walk to raise money for Children with Cancer UK

Ten-year-old Carl James Dingley from Catcliffe near Rotherham took part in a sponsored walk on Thursday August 16, walking from Sheffield to Dronfield by himself to raise money for Children with Cancer UK.

CJ was determined to incorporate his favourite sport into the day, so, he visited three landmark buildings known to many football fans along the way.

The football mad schoolboy was under parental supervision by his mum Claire Dingley and her partner Becky Evans as he made his way from the pitch at Hillsborough Stadium to Bramall Lane, the home of his beloved Sheffield United.

He stopped off for a quick bite to eat, before commencing on the next leg of the walk out of Sheffield, finishing at the Sheffield FC ground in Dronfield.

He came up with the idea after following the story of Bradley Lowery, the six-year-old who lost his fight against a rare form of cancer last year.

So, CJ decided he wanted to raise as much money as he could for children across the country who were battling with the disease, and set himself a target of £2,5000.

Carl wants to raise as much money as he can for children with cancer

Claire said: "All the family and the Catcliffe estate support him. I work at Doncaster Royal Infirmary and they've also sponsored him. He is a bit frustrated as he's not near his target, his aim is £2,500 and he had hoped for sponsorship from some footballers."

However, CJ managed to get the backing from the clubs who have opened up their grounds for the day so he can start his walk from centre pitch.

"He was excited to go on the pitch. He wanted to link it in with football," Claire added.

"Becky used to play for Sheffield FC Ladies as a goalkeeper. I would take him to games as a child. Sheffield FC Ladies and Sheffield United Ladies, he watches them. We know the managers of the ladies teams and he's got the backing from them."

Children with Cancer UK is the leading nation children's charity dedicated to the fight against childhood cancer, who fund life-saving research into the causes, prevention and treatment of such cancers.

Before the day, Claire said: "This is going to be a big challenge as he’s only tiny but he thinks this is going to be an amazing opportunity for him to combine charity work with his one true love, football."

You can still sponsor CJ by visiting https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/donna-claire-dingley