Walking for Hope – Preston College Takes on Cancer with 52 Mile Challenge
Cancer is something that touches so many lives across the UK. Each year, more than 423,000 people are diagnosed, and today nearly 3.5 million people are living with cancer. While outcomes are improving, challenges remain. For many of us, this isn’t just something we read about; it’s something we see and feel in our own families, friendships and workplaces every day.
At Preston College, that reality is deeply felt and this has inspired a powerful new initiative for 2026: the Hope 52 Challenge, a challenge created to honour members of our staff who have been affected by cancer, and who continue to contribute positively to the College and our students, and to support those in our wider college community.
The challenge centres on a 52.2‑ mile endurance walk – equivalent to two marathons – starting from Haigh Hall in Wigan, passing through Clitheroe, and finishing at Preston College, and by design will ensure that those who complete the Hope 52 Challenge will have their strength, endurance and resilience tested in helping to raise funds for charity.
Each step taken will help raise funds for Cancer Research UK, a leading organisation dedicated to reducing cancer deaths through world-class research, awareness and policy change.
The College has set an ambitious fundraising target of £10,000, and early momentum is already building. Since the launch on Friday 17 April, colleagues have raised £1,272, putting the College firmly on track to reach, and potentially exceed its goal.
Recognising that a double marathon may not be for everyone, the College has created a series of inclusive options so that as many people as possible can take part:
- Hope 52 Challenge – the full 52.2-mile route
- Hope 26 Challenge – a marathon-distance option, with routes from Wigan to Great Harwood or the “Midnight Marathon” from Great Harwood to Preston
- Hope 10 Challenge – the final 10 miles, starting early on 29 May
- Hope 5 Challenge – the last 5 miles of the journey
- Hope College Mile – the final mile onto campus, open to the widest participation
Hope 52 is more than a physical challenge – it’s a collective statement of support, resilience and hope. Whether walking a mile or the full distance, every staff participant will be contributing to something larger: a shared commitment to stand alongside those affected by cancer and to help drive meaningful change.
If you like to show your support and donate, please follow this link – every penny really does count! Thank you for any support you can give.
The Preston College Hope 52 Challenge
