A YORK cancer survivor is urging others to join her in raising money to support research into the disease.

Alison Learwood, who lives in York, is taking part in the city's Balloon Walk on June 24, and is encouraging the community to join her in support of Bloodwise, the UK’s specialist blood cancer charity.

Alison, who was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma in June 2013, is an ambassador for the charity.

She has been in remission for four years and first joined the charity at their inaugural York Balloon Walk in 2017.

She said: “Last year’s event was great fun and there was a wonderfully positive feel about the whole event.

“Join the walk, have fun, meet amazing people and raise money for a great cause.

“I’m looking forward to it.”

The York Balloon Walk is taking place on Sunday, June 24, starting from Beechwood Close Hotel on Shipton Road.

Catriona Taylor, regional manager for the North at Bloodwise, said: “We are delighted to be bringing the balloon walk back to York for a second year, with a scenic route along the banks of the River Ouse.

“We originally had the walk planned for March, however, sadly we had to cancel due to weather warnings when the Beast from the East hit, and we’re really hoping residents will join us on the new date.”

The three-mile walk starts at 10am and will take in picturesque views of the city and York Minster, before turning back along the river through the Museum Gardens and along the riverside path.

Entry costs £15 per adult, £5 per child and £35 for families of four. The fee includes a Bloodwise t-shirt for walkers.

Seventy people took part last year, raising £4,300 for research into new treatments for blood cancers such as leukaemia, lymphoma and myeloma.

Blood cancer is the UK’s third largest cause of cancer death in the UK, with around 39,000 people diagnosed each year.

Sign up for the walk at bloodwise.org.uk/york-balloon.