The ‘Team Clyde Trophy Walk’ saw participants walk from Clatterbridge Cancer Centre in Liverpool to Anfield football club, and then finish at Ewood Park, the home of Blackburn Rovers F.C.
Organised by the friends and family of Jen Bellamy, a lifelong Blackburn Rovers fan and bone cancer patient, the 36.2-mile route was of dual significance. It brought together Jen’s treatment, by starting at the Clatterbridge Cancer Centre, and the 30th anniversary of Blackburn Rovers F.C lifting the Premier League trophy at Anfield.
Jen was diagnosed with Spindle Cell Sarcoma of the Bone in January 2024, when scans also revealed that the cancer had metastasized. After a Distal femoral replacement operation, Jen now has a ‘bionic leg’ and went straight into six rounds of brutal chemotherapy.
A scan in November 2024 showed the cells being active again which put her back on another course of chemotherapy which began in February this year.
Team Clyde was created from Jen naming her cancer ‘Clyde’ to normalise it in conversations and so her family can keep dealing with the situation with a positive attitude. Jen wanted to fundraise as a team and celebrate her favourite club.
Jen took part in the final part of the walk, finishing with her daughter, Hannah, her son, Joe and her husband, Jay, finishing by Jack Walker’s statue outside the Blackburn End of Ewood Park. The event had over 60 people taking part, including a team from Watson Ramsbottom Solicitors, the club’s front of shirt sponsor, and Vets4Pets in Cleveleys. Over £5,500 has been raised by the event for the Bone Cancer Research Trust so far.
Joining in with the final miles of the walk were Kevin Gallacher, part of Blackburn Rovers’ Premier League winning team back in 1995 and local lad, ex-Rovers’ player and club legend David Dunn. (Both pictured below)
On the success of the event, Jen said:
I’m overwhelmed by the support that the event has garnered over the past few weeks since we told people we were planning on doing this and it’s been amazing to see such support for Team Clyde. Walking the final part of the ‘Team Clyde Trophy Walk’ with friends, family and Rovers’ supporters surrounding me is a moment that I will never forget.
Thank you so very much to everyone involved for helping to raise awareness for the Bone Cancer Research Trust along with vital funds for them too. This is going to make such a difference to being able to find out more about primary bone cancer and to help fund research into kinder and more targeted treatment for patients.
Earlier this year, Blackburn Rovers F.C gifted Jen with a cardboard cutout of club striker Makthar Gueye, to support her during chemotherapy and treatment.
Xanthe Hopkinson, Regional Relationship Manager at the Bone Cancer Research Trust was delighted to attend on the day:
It was brilliant to see how many people came together to support Jen on Sunday and a truly memorable moment to see the walk finish in the stadium. A huge thank you to all the Team Clyde Trophy walkers and everyone who has sponsored them for helping to raise such an incredible amount to support the work of the Bone Cancer Research Trust and for helping to raise vital awareness of primary bone cancer.
Donate to the Team Clyde Trophy Walk
The amazing Team Clyde!
