A DAD of two who was diagnosed with incurable and inoperable EGFR+ lung cancer is today (February 14) embarking on a fundraising challenge taking on the Wales Coast Path in a bid to raise £1million.

Craig Maxwell, the WRU’s former head of marketing, will be joined by a number of Welsh celebrities along the way including TV presenter Gethin Jones, Love Island star Liam Reardon, singer Wynne Evans, weather presenter Derek Brockway and a host of rugby players.

He is hoping to raise £1m for the Maxwell Family Fund, a fund as part of Velindre Cancer Centre, to enhance, improve and develop the cancer pathway in Wales.

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Starting in North Wales, cycling from Chester to Menai Bridge, Craig is then being joined by more than 500 walkers during the 26-day challenge.

The challenge will see walkers cover 780 miles of the coast path to represent the 78 days it took Craig to receive his diagnosis from the point of finding his tumour.

The rest of the 870-mile coast path will be cycled.

It is being done in 26 days to mirror the QuicDNA project, a genomics research project to reduce diagnosis time for lung cancer patients to a maximum of 26 days.

Acknowledging the unpredictable nature of his ongoing treatments, Craig will be joined by a different Welsh celebrity every day of the walk, so that regardless of his ability to walk, he will have a representative to take on the challenge.

A rugby match ball will be relayed the entire distance of the challenge, symbolising Wales’ collective fight against cancer.

It will culminate at the national stadium of Wales, the Principality Stadium, on March 10 for the Wales v France Six Nations match, where Craig, accompanied by his children, Isla and Zach, will carry the match ball onto the pitch.

Craig said: “Having surpassed our initial fundraising goals of £300,000 for QuicDNA, we really hope people will support us on the Wales Coast Path Challenge.

“It will be our most ambitious journey yet as we strive to create a community united against cancer across the length and breadth of Wales.

“Cancer has touched our lives, challenged our resilience, but it will not define our future.

“This event will see people from all over Wales stand united, not just as individuals but as a formidable force against cancer.”

The people of Wales are being encouraged to support Craig’s efforts either by joining a leg of the challenge, or by taking on their own fundraising challenge between February 14 and March 10.

This can be anything from a one-day walking challenge, to walking a mile a day.

Craig was just 40 when he was diagnosed with incurable and inoperable EGFR lung and bone cancer.

In the last year, he has run the London Marathon, taken part in CARTEN, cycled 320 miles from Cardiff to Paris, cycled over 420 miles from Paris to Bordeaux and taken on the Welsh 3000s – climbing more than 10 mountains, all in excess of 3,000ft in 24 hours.

Earlier this year, he was crowned Cycling Plus’ Rider of the Year for his efforts.

His story has touched the hearts of many, rallying support that surpassed all expectations.

His efforts to date have seen him raise £430,000 to support the QuicDNA project, which aims to shorten the time it takes to diagnose lung cancer in patients in Wales.

With a further £500,000 donated by The Moondance Foundation, set up by Henry and Diane Engelhardt, Craig has now launched his own charity fund.