A team of medical professionals are contributing to healthcare outside of their physiotherapy jobs by helping sporting legend Sir Ian Botham in his latest fundraising mission.

Sir 'Beefy' Botham, a legend in British sports thanks to his strong all-round performance as a captain of and player in the England Test cricket team, is raising money for Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research through a series of charity walks. Sir Botham hopes to attract scores of fellow fundraisers as he takes part in charity walks from John O Groats to Land's End, traversing the country nearly entirely on foot.

The event marks the 25th anniversary of Sir Botham's first ever such walk and the 50th birthday of the L&L research charity. In 1985 he trekked the entire 900 miles entirely on foot and has since raised more than ten million pounds for a variety of charities dedicated to cancer research. Mr Botham has said he was inspired when he took a wrong turn during a hospital visit for a broken toe and found himself in the children's ward; he was shocked to learn that many of these children had just weeks to live.

Speaking in the Preswich and Whitefield Guide, Sir Botham said: "I never forget why I put myself through the pain and blisters. I won't stop until we beat childhood leukaemia."

Hopefully though, his latest journey was less painful, as the Manchester walk was sponsored by David Roberts Physiotherapy group. Staff from David Roberts used the skills from their physiotherapy jobs to provide medical support for Sir Ian's 10 miles trek through the capital of the North for both Beefy himself and any fundraisers walking with him.