Cornwall homeless charity Harbour Housing has announced an 85-mile bed push to raise money and awareness for children with cancer.

The challenge is in aid of the family of a two-year-old from Truro called Chester, who has been diagnosed with spinal astrocytoma and is undergoing 18 months of chemotherapy.

Chester is the grandson of a member of staff at Harbour, Claire Tregunna, who describes him as “the bravest, cheekiest little trooper who keeps us all on our toes.”

She said: “On the darker days when Chester is feeling particularly unwell the feeling of being powerless can be overwhelming for us grandparents, but that little family battles on through every day to try and make life as normal as possible for their two boys.

“I am humbled by the generosity of Harbour Housing to make Chester their chosen charity for this year and am determined to make this event one to remember and raise as much as possible to help our little family and other families going through similar times.

“Many residents have already come to me with their own ideas for raising money for Chester’s Challenge.

"This has, on occasion, brought me to tears that those with so little want to do so much to help our little trooper, Chester.”

The event will start at midday on Friday, November 29 when a team will push a bed on wheels across the Tamar Bridge to begin its journey across the length of the county, aiming to arrive at Cornwall landmark Land’s End by midday on Sunday, December 1.

At the request of the family, the money will be split between themselves and the Children’s Cancer and Leukaemia Group. Staff and residents of Harbour Housing are already making preparations for the event but they need help from the community to make it a success.

The route, stretching 85 miles through Liskeard, St Austell, Truro, Camborne and Hayle, will be split into manageable five-mile legs and Harbour has put out an appeal for people to volunteer to join them in pushing for a section of the route.

Those from sports clubs, charitable groups, businesses and other organisations are all encouraged to take part either through volunteering to push, donating food and drink along the route or just coming out to support the team.

There are also sponsorship opportunities for Cornish businesses that want to get involved.

The event is taking place at the end of November for a good reason - Harbour also wants to raise awareness for the plight of those without a bed to sleep in during the winter months and hopes that the bed push will highlight the struggles that hundreds of people in the UK face every year.

The fundraising page will go live at the beginning of November so at this stage Harbour want to raise as much support as possible for the event, and have asked all those interested to contact Emily on emily.h@harbourhousing.com.

More information can be found on the Harbour Housing website and Facebook page.