PAL IN NEED
The heartbreaking reason Gethin Jones stepped back from BBC’s Morning Live this week revealed
Gethin has teamed up with an old pal for a very special reason
THE heartbreaking reason TV host Gethin Jones stepped back from Morning Live this week has been revealed.
The 46-year-old usually presents the BBC One show from its studios in Manchester.
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However on Tuesday, Gaby Roslin and Michelle Ackerley fronted the programme while Gethin returned to his native Wales to support his friend Craig Maxwell.
Craig, the chief commerical officer of the Six Nations rugby, has been given months to live after being diagnosed with incurable and inoperable EGFR lung and bone cancer in September 2022.
Craig had to wait 78-days to receive his diagnosis and described it as being the worst time for his family, prompting him to want to make a change and push for the process to be sped up for future patients.
He has embarked on an epic 780-mile trek along the Welsh coast in the hopes of raising £1 million.
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Craig, 41, has been joined by 530 walkers including Gethin for the challenge which will see him walk 576 miles and cycle 204 miles.
Chatting on camera as they walked, Gethin asked his friend why he was doing this instead of "putting his feet up on holiday".
Craig replied: "There's two reasons. The first one is the experience me and my wife went through by waiting for those 78-days - we just felt compelled that we needed to do something for the next family.
"That wasn't something that we wanted someone else to experience and there are ways in which we can help solve that problem. So that's really driven and motivated us.
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"But also, the most challenging part really is unfortunately I'm not going to be there to give the right messages and support to my wife and children in the future."
Craig, who has daughter Isla, 12, and son Zach, eight, with his wife Tracey, continued: "So for me, by doing events like this and fundraising, I can show my children the lessons of life and the positivity through the actions that I took through our darkest time. That's really important for me.
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"Not now, but when they're 19/20 and things are hard for them, then they'll think their dad didn't let things beat him and he got up, and he tried to as best he could."
Gethin said to his friend: "'You are without a doubt one of the most positive people that we know but Craig seriously, everything you're going through physically, how are you finding this? How hard is it?"
Craig replied: "I'm not one to admit it always but I have to say it's getting harder.
"The blisters on my feet are sore, painful and with the side effects of the tablets, I get quite a bit of fatigue so each day between 18-24 miles, it's starting to have its effect.
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"My dream is to do as much of it as I can but the way I'm feeling at the moment I'm going to have to take some days to rest because it's getting harder."
All being well, Craig will complete his journey at the Principality Stadium on Sunday, March 10, during Wales Six Nations match against France.
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Morning Live airs weekdays from 9.30am on BBC One.
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