LEGENDARY English cricketer Sir Ian Botham has urged Reporter readers to help a Saffron Walden family in their fundraising crusade to beat childhood blood cancers.

Max Rowlandson, four, of Little Walden Road, joined the famous all-rounder at a charity walk from Cambridge to the Wimpole Estate last Friday.

The youngster, halfway through a three-year course of treatment after being diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia in June 2010, took part in Beefy’s Great British Walk along with his mum Jodie, dad Daniel and little sister India.

Speaking exclusively to the Reporter after the event, Sir Ian praised Max and his family for the “fantastic” effort so far, which has seen them raise more than �2,500, and said he hoped joining the walk would help them to reach their �3,000 target.

He said: “What Max, Jodie, Daniel and India have achieved so far in raising more than �2,000 to go towards leukaemia and lymphoma research is fantastic.

“I sincerely hope that after doing the walk they smash their target of �3,000 and urge Reporter readers to dig deep and do all they can to help us beat childhood blood cancers.”

Max’s mum Jodie said she and husband Daniel were amazed at the support shown for the charity at last Friday’s walk.

“The organisation and smooth running of the event was fantastic. Even the rain couldn’t dampen people’s spirits. The children all walked with a smile on their faces and didn’t moan once,” she said.

“Ian Botham was incredible and he met and talked to every single child there. The amount that has been raised through Beefy’s efforts is truly inspiring.”

When Sir Ian first started walking for the Leukaemia and Lymphoma charity in 1985 about 20 per cent of children diagnosed with the disease survived. Today that figure is up to 80 per cent.

But despite raising �12million for the charity in the last 16 years, he has vowed not to stop until that survival rate reaches 100 per cent.

To donate and to help the Rowlandson’s meet their target, visit justgiving.com/jodie-rowlandson