Botham off on new walk in aid of leukaemia researchEngland cricket great Sir Ian Botham Sir Ian Terence Botham, OBE, (born 24 November 1955) is a retired England Test cricketer and Test team captain, and current cricket commentator. He was a genuine all-rounder with 14 centuries and 383 wickets, and remains well known by his nicknames "Beefy" [1] unveiled plans for his latest charity walk on Tuesday, saying he would not stop until childhood leukaemia had ceased totally to be a fatal condition. Former all-rounder Botham's 13th charity walk will start in April next year and take him on a 10-town tour of England. 'Beefy's Great Forget Me Not Walk' will also mark the 25th anniversary of his first trek in aid of leukaemia research Leukaemia Research is a British charitable organisation, established in 1960 whose aim is to research leukaemia, lymphomas, myeloma, aplastic anaemia, myelodysplasia, the myeloproliferative disorders and the related blood disorders in both children and adults. . "My walk in 2010 will be extra special for me," Botham said on Tuesday. "I never forget why I put myself through the pain and blisters. I won't stop until we beat childhood leukaemia. We're up to about 90 percent survival now and that's remarkable." Botham, who heads out to South Africa South Africa, Afrikaans Suid-Afrika, officially Republic of South Africa, republic (2005 est. pop. 44,344,000), 471,442 sq mi (1,221,037 sq km), S Africa. on Wednesday to commentate com·men·tate v. com·men·tat·ed, com·men·tat·ing, com·men·tates v.intr. To serve as commentator. v.tr. To make a running commentary on. on England's tour for television satellite broadcaster Sky, has so far raised some 10 million pounds (16.67 million dollars) for leukaemia research. When the now 53-year-old Botham set off on his first walk, a 900-mile length of Britain effort from Scotland's John O'Groats to England's Land's End in 1985, only 20 percent of children with leukaemia Children With Leukaemia is a registered charity (no. 298405) inaugurated in 1988 by Diana, Princess of Wales in memory of Jean and Paul O'Gorman. The charity supports and organises events and money raising to aid children struck with leukaemia. survived. Botham's efforts were inspired after a visit while still a player for Somerset, the county where he made his name as a cricketer, to Taunton's Musgrove Park Hospital Musgrove Park Hospital is a large NHS hospital located in Taunton, Somerset. Originally a US Army General Hospital during the Second World War, it became an NHS hospital in 1949. for treatment on a broken toe. He took a turn into the wrong ward where he was stunned to learn some of the children had only weeks to live. 
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