Max tackles mission to raise £8,000 for work of Macmillan while his father battles terminal cancer
A son's mission to raise £8,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support to say thank you for supporting his father while he battles terminal cancer, has got off to a flying start as he prepares for his next challenge this weekend.
Max Ball, 24, a marketing assistant at Shrewsbury-based caravan dealership Salop Leisure, has set himself 12 different sponsored challenges - MaxAndTheMac12 - during 2016.
He has already taken on a solo bungee jump at Tamworth Bungee Club in February and the Dash of the Titan mud run in Nottinghamshire.
The challenges to date have raised £3,467, which includes a £1,200 contribution from colleagues Tony Cooke and Ed Glover who took part in The 2016 Macmillan 4x4 Challenge.
On Sunday Max with workmates Scott Higgins and Chris Evans and friends John Marshall and Steve Drury will take on local motor dealership group Greenhous in a race to sit on half the 9,875 seats in Shrewsbury Town's Greenhous Meadow stadium.
Max is also preparing to perform a scene from 'Much Ado About Nothing' in The Square in Shrewsbury for Shakespeare Day later this month.
Performances of Shakespeare will take place throughout the day and volunteers from Macmillan Cancer Support will be collecting donations in buckets from spectators.
Salop Leisure is organising a charity football match against Greenhous at the Greenhous Meadow Stadium next month, with the motor company out to avenge a 3-1 defeat last year.
Max decided to set himself the challenges after his father, Steve, was diagnosed with cancer of the oesophagus last October.
Initially, the family, who live in Bayston Hill, near Shrewsbury, was told that the cancer was potentially operable and curable, but an exploratory operation in December discovered that it had spread and was now incurable. Steve is now undergoing chemotherapy to extend his life.
"The money raised by MaxAndTheMac12 will help Macmillan to reach more people with cancer and improve the quality of care and support available to them during their cancer journey," Max said.
Other events in the challenge series are the Rough Runner Challenge, Shrewsbury Half Marathon, the National Three Peaks Race, a foot golf tournament, white water rafting in Llangollen and a 24 hour squashathon at Kingsland Squash Club, Shrewsbury Sprint Triathlon and a 106 kilometre ride at Ludlow Cycling Festival.
As an extra fundraiser, he's planning a bake-off amongst Salop Leisure staff to coincide with Macmillan's World's Biggest Coffee Morning on September 30.
Anyone wishing to support Max can donate money using www.justgiving.com/MaxAndTheMac12
