A CANCER charity has made a plea to all lovers of the Lake District fells to get involved with an initiative called Your Walk Your Wainwright.

Macmillan Cancer plans to have supporters on all 214 of the fells that appear in the seven books written by Kendal author and artist Alfred Wainwright at the same time on Sunday July 19.

With many of the fell tops close enough for people to be visible to each other, it is planned that supporters will wave to each other from “their” Wainwright at 1pm. Organisers say this is in order to create a wave of support for people affected by cancer that spreads from fell to fell across the Lake District.

The idea was borne out of a conversation over a pint between two friends, Jez Such, a member of the Macmillan team who lives in Staveley, and his friend and long-time visitor to the Lake District Peter Clark, of Barlborough, near Sheffield, who lost his wife to cancer in 2012.

“With my wife Beverley and our kids we had some of our happiest days walking in the Lakes, so climbing a Wainwright seemed a great way to remember those times, and I wanted to do something in her memory that would also reach out to the millions of others touched by cancer,” said Mr Clark.

Sue McDonald, Macmillan fundraising manager in Cumbria, said: “Your Walk, Your Wainwright is about fun, family and friends. It’s about being active, enjoying the outdoors, and loving some of the good things in life. It’s about a great summer day out - and it’s about helping Macmillan to help people affected by cancer at the same time.”

“Whether you’re a hardy fell walker, a first-timer, a couple of mates or an extended family with grandma and the kids coming along with the dog, the Wainwrights come in so many shapes and sizes there’s almost bound to be one that’s good for you - so loads of people can be part of that big wave of support.”

Cancer survivor Jonathan Deakin, of Manchester, who will be one of those on the fell tops on July 19, said: "I was diagnosed with an advanced brain tumour in November 2013 and wasn’t expected to survive, but exercise has helped me pull through and that’s why I’ll be making Sour Howes my Wainwright that Sunday.

And Aggie Sheppard at Macmillan said: “I’m really looking forward to the day, and have spoken to many others who feel just the same, but if we are to get a supporter on every Wainwright we really need people to pull out the stops, join in, bag a Wainwright for themselves, and be part of the wave of support."

Anyone wishing to walk in memory of a loved one can get further information about Your Walk, Your Wainwright at www.yourwalkyourwainwright.co.uk or by e-mailing Cumbria@macmillan.org.uk