Sir Ian Botham (otherwise known as ‘Beefy’) has announced that he is dusting down his trainers and setting off in October 2008 on another legendary fundraising walk which this time will take him through Harrogate and Fountains Abbey.

For the first time members of the public will be able to join Beefy as he walks to help blood cancer charity Leukaemia Research beat childhood leukaemia.

'Beefy's Great British Walk - Against Childhood Leukaemia' will take in nine towns across the UK from 10/18 October. This will be Beefy's 12th charity walk and on day seven (16 October), Beefy will walk in Harrogate where the public can join him for a four-mile walk in the stunning grounds of Fountain Abbey.

Sir Ian, President of Leukaemia Research, says: “In 1985, when I first started walking to raise funds for Leukaemia Research, the survival rate for children with leukaemia was 20 percent now the survival rate is 80 percent. Join me on my 2008 walk and together we will help beat this terrible disease. I am determined to see all children survive in my lifetime.

"I need people to sign up now and make this my best walk ever. Places on each stage of the walk will fill up quickly.”

The walk is open to everyone but if you are under 16 you will need to be accompanied by an adult, and each person is being encouraged to raise a minimum of £250.

In each town there will be a special off-road section where you can come and join Sir Ian, and some of his celebrity friends, all the way to the finish line.

Everybody will be sent sponsorship forms and a fundraising guide full of great ideas on how to raise as much money as possible.

I need people to sign up now and make this my best walk ever. Places on each stage of the walk will fill up quickly.”

Ian Botham - President of Leukaemia Research

Day 7: Harrogate - Fountains Abbey

Date of walk: 16 October 2008

Sir Ian Botham will leave Harrogate's Marks & Spencer at around 9:30 am, people are welcome to go and see him off and cheer him along the town.

Then Sir Ian will go Fountains Abbey. Set in the naturally beautiful Skell Valley Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal is Yorkshire's first World Heritage Site. The spectacular estate covers over 800 acres of stunning Yorkshire countryside and includes the atmospheric ruins of a 12th century Cistercian abbey, one of the most important remaining Georgian Water Gardens in the UK, one of the few remaining monastic water mills in the country, as well as a Georgian manor house and medieval deer park, home to 500 wild deer.

Join Beefy on this four-mile walk through this beautiful estate of contrasts and surprises on 16 October.

How to enter the walk: If you would like to join Sir Ian on one of his walks please contact Botham Walk Manager Georgina Fitt on 020 7269 9003 or email gfitt@lrf.org.uk or visit www.bothamwalk.com.

It costs £10 per person to enter to walk with him in this exclusive one-off opportunity. You will be able to join Beefy on one of his walks and as places are limited we are asking everyone to raise a minimum of £250.

Entries will be accepted until 26 September, if the event is full before that date bookings will close earlier.