Penarth dad Craig Maxwell to start Wales coastal walk

Craig Maxwell, from Penarth, was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer in September 2022 and will start his walk of the Wales coast today, February 14.

The dad of two will be joined by Welsh celebrities along the way including TV presenter Gethin Jones, Love Island star Liam Reardon, singer Wynne Evans, weather presenter Derek Brockway and S4C presenter Lauren Jenkins.

He said: “We are embarking on a monumental challenge to symbolise hope, resilience, and unity and raise over £1 million for the research and development of new and innovative cancer testing and treatments in Wales.

“It will be our most ambitious journey yet as we strive to create a community united against cancer across the length and breadth of Wales.

Craig Maxwell with his wife Tracey and children Zach (L) and Isla (R). Picture: Supplied (Image: Supplied)“Cancer has touched our lives, and challenged our resilience, but it will not define our future. This event will see people from all over Wales stand united as individuals and as a formidable force against cancer.”

Mr Maxwell, originally from Pembrokeshire will be joined by more than 500 walkers throughout the 26-day challenge.

The challenge will see walkers cover 780 miles of the coastal path to represent the 78 days it took Mr Maxwell to receive his diagnosis from the point of finding his tumour.

The rest of the 870-mile coast path will be cycled. It is being done in 26 days to mirror the QuicDNA project, a genomics research project to reduce diagnosis time for lung cancer patients to a maximum of 26 days.

During the walk, he will be joined by a different Welsh celebrity every day of the walk, so that regardless of his ability to walk, he will have a representative to take on the challenge.

Other celebrities joining Maxwell on his walk are rugby stars Josh Navidi, Shane Williams, Jamie Roberts, Sam Warburton, Ian Gough, Tom Shanklin, Martyn Williams, Jonathan ‘Jiffy’ Davies, Huw Bennett, Nicky Robinson, Rupert Moon, Rhys Williams, and Ryan Jones.

A rugby match ball will be relayed the entire distance of the challenge, symbolising Wales’ collective fight against cancer.

It will end at the Principality Stadium on March 10 for the Guinness Six Nations clash between Wales and France where Mr Maxwell and his children, Isla and Zach will carry the match ball onto the pitch.