Mark and Wayne Bayfield: Beaches’ publicans put best foot forward in 350km trek for kids’ cancer charity
Locals are being urged to support two popular northern beaches’ publicans on their 350km Lighthouse to Lighthouse walk to raise vital funds to fight childhood cancer.
Manly
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A couple of popular northern beaches’ publicans are set to wear out a whole lot of shoe leather when take on a challenging 350km walk to raise much needed money for charity.
Brothers Mark and Wayne Bayfield, whose family own and operate the Dee Why and Belrose hotels, will take on the Lighthouse to Lighthouse trek to support the Children’s Cancer Institute.
The pair, both aged in their 60s, have already raised a staggering $4.5 million for the organisation over the past 24 years.
But the brothers say they want to do more to fund medical research that helps find a cure for childhood cancer.
They are hoping to raise another $200,000 through donors and sponsors backing their 15-day walk.
“We’re starting to get too old and stupid to do this, so we can’t wait any longer,” Mark said.
On 8am this Sunday, September 8, Mark and Wayne will set out from the historic Barrenjoey Lighthouse at Palm Beach and head south to the Flagstaff Lighthouse next to Wollongong Harbour.
If the brothers took the most direct route, they'd be walking about 125km between the two lighthouses, but they’re taking the long way round,
In an effort to maximise support, the Bayfields will walk between 17 to 33kms a day across 15 days, visiting areas including Manly, Balmoral, Parramatta, Hunters Hill, The Rocks, Watsons Bay, Coogee, Cronulla, Kurnell and the Royal National Park before the last stage between Otford and Wollongong.
“It’s easier hosting an auction or a lunch,” Wayne said.
“We’re definitely throwing our bodies on the line,” Mark laughed.
After one of the brothers became involved in raising money for the institute, the Bayfields family made a decision that it would become its preferred charity.
“They are an amazing organisation, amazing,” Wayne said.
“We were more than happy to make that our cause.”
A little boy called Jacob, who was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia when he was just four years old, designed the fundraising walks’ logo. Jacob is now undergoing maintenance therapy.
The Bayfields are urging locals to help them out.
“If you want to throw a hose over us as we walk by, that’s great. But if you want to join us, that's even better,” Mark said.
People can walk with the brothers by creating their own Lighthouse to Lighthouse fundraising page.
If you would like to support the Children’s Cancer Institute and the Bayfields, or register to walk alongside the brothers, click here.
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