2:10pm Saturday 30th June 2012
By Tom Jennings
FUNDRAISERS will push each other in colourfully decorated prams between Witney pubs to raise money for a cancer charity.
The event will see about 20 ‘pimped up’ prams pushed between at least 17 pubs, including The Plough, Izi and The Chequers, on Saturday, July 28.
The event will be similar to the traditional shirt races that take place across West Oxfordshire, including in Bampton and Eynsham.
Organiser Karen Cassford, of Charlbury, hopes to raise more than £2,000 for Cancer Research UK after her close friend was diagnosed with brain cancer.
She said: “We wanted to do something fun and something different to raise money.
“We wanted to be able to donate to a charity that would help him fight his battle, so we decided to give money to Cancer Research.”
David Dusgate, 40, from the Isle of Wight, had a tumour the size of a ping-pong ball removed from his brain after it was discovered about two months ago.
But the cancer is incurable and Mr Dusgate, who has a wife and a 14-month-old son, has been given 14 months to two years left to live.
Mrs Cassford said: “He is my best friend and is basically my brother. He has been there for me since I can remember.
“I was mortified when he told me but it was only for a split second because he was so positive.”
Mrs Cassford added: “Before I was married he had a horrific bike accident with a coach. He died twice in hospital.
“He came to the wedding on crutches. He is a fighter beyond belief and he is so, so positive.”
A similar pram push event will be held on the Isle of Wight on the same day as the Witney event.
Mr Dusgate, who is set to start radio and chemotherapy soon, said: “It is times like this when you find out who your friends really are.
“I am over the moon she is raising money for Cancer Research.”
He added: “I am one of those people that if I’m knocked down I will fight it 100 per cent. If someone tells me I can’t do something I will fight it harder.”
Posters with donation details will be put up in the participating pubs in Witney next week.
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