A SOUTH Shields comedian is taking on a historic walking challenge to raise funds for a children’s hospital.
Luke Milford, who runs monthly comedy night Laughterholics Anonymous at the West Park pub in South Shields, has teamed up with a host of funny people to walk 32 miles along sections of Hadrian’s Wall.
The 22-year-old and his comedy buddies will complete the challenge over six days, and in that time they’ll be squeezing in seven free comedy gigs for people in Bowness-on-Solway, Carlisle, Newton, Greenhead, Cholleford, Heddon-on-the-Wall and Newcastle.
Luke will be taking on the challenge, organised by comic Nick Banks, with fellow stand-ups Pat Monahan, Michael Redmond, Ian Cognito, Jarrow’s Seymour Mace, and others, to raise money for the Great North Children’s Hospital, based at Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary.
He said: “I’ve known Nick for a while. We started doing stand up at the same time, and he asked me if I’d take part in this challenge.
“It’s a great cause and I’m really looking forward to it. I think we’ll have a laugh along the way and spur each other on.
“It’s a great cause too, so we’re all more than happy to take part.
“I’ve just started doing some fitness stuff last week, so I am a bit apprehensive. I know it’s going to be hard, but hopefully I’ll be a bit more prepared.”
The challenge, which runs from March 28 to April 3, was the idea of Hartlepool comedian Nick. He was inspired to do something for the hospital after his best friend Michael Readman’s three-year-old son Harry was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease.
He said: “It’s not just for Harry, it’s for kids all over the North East and raising some money will mean they’ve got extra funding for staff and equipment like dialysis machines.
“I was really humbled by the amount of people that signed up to take part.
“All the gigs along the way are going to be free, but we’ll be asking people to make a donation.
“Hopefully, we’ll raise a lot of money.”
To find out more about the challenge, visit the website, hadrianswallcharitywalk.weebly.com or follow the progress on Twitter @comedywalk2013.
To make a donation, go to www.justgiving.com/Nicholas-Banks0.
Twitter: @shieldsgazvicki
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