TOUR de Walkshire is under way – and already proving a massive success.

The event, being staged instead of the postponed Tour de Yorkshire cycle race, was launched this weekend.

And even before the official start, it was more than halfway towards its £50,000 charity fundraising target.

The initiative, being staged jointly by Welcome to Yorkshire and Yorkshire Cancer Research, runs throughout this month.

Everyone is being urged to get involved – by walking, cycling, running or pushing, over any chosen distance.

Participants receive a free Tour de Walkshire T-shirt. And all those hitting a £250 individual fundraising target will be given a Yorkshire Cancer Research bottle and Welcome to Yorkshire Y badge.

Dr Kathryn Scott, chief executive of Yorkshire Cancer Research, said: “We’re blown away by the incredible support we’ve seen so far for Tour de Walkshire.

“We’ve heard so many poignant reasons why people are taking part, either for themselves or on behalf of friends and family who are having cancer treatment right now.

“This amazing team of fundraisers is already well on the way to achieving our £50,000 target – which will save many lives in Yorkshire through preventing cancer, improving early diagnosis and bringing world-class treatment to the region.

“We just want to say a massive thank-you, on behalf of everyone affected by cancer in Yorkshire, to all those taking part.”

The thanks are echoed by Welcome to Yorkshire’s chief executive, James Mason.

He added: “It’s fantastic news that the Tour de Walkshire raised over 50 per cent of its fundraising target before we’d even started the event and what an immense impact that will have for Yorkshire Cancer Research and people diagnosed with cancer.

“The more people who sign-up for the event, get involved and sponsor teams and individuals, the more it will help us reach the £50,000 target. And who knows, we may even raise more, which would be amazing.

“As the Tour de Yorkshire cycling race has been postponed until next year due to the pandemic, we wanted to create an inclusive and exciting event to bring people together – following Government guidelines of course – in the great outdoors, to encourage fitness and wellbeing, fundraise and also increase awareness of an amazing charity. The Tour de Walkshire is the perfect way to do this.”

For further information about the event and to register, visit join.yorkshirecancerresearch.org.uk/event/tour-de-walkshire-2021/home.