Charity milking marathon raises thousands
A farmer who was given just months to live in 2005 has just completed a 24-hour milking marathon to raise money for charity.
Gerald Beale, who had a tenanted farm with Wiltshire County Council for 24 years, still does relief milking aged almost 66.
In 2005 he was diagnosed with a rare kidney cancer and given months to live. “But I received brilliant care throughout my illness and against all odds have been told that I am clear of cancer,” he says.
“One of my older brothers died in 1990 at the age of 52 with the exact same cancer so was not as lucky. I wanted to give something back to the charity that gave me a second chance of life.”
“One of my older brothers died in 1990 at the age of 52 with the exact same cancer so was not as lucky. I wanted to give something back to the charity that gave me a second chance of life,”
Gerald Beale
So last week, Mr Beale milked 1,790 cows in 11 milking sessions across five herds in the Devizes area during a 24-hour marathon. “I travelled 110 miles and probably milked about 20,000 litres.”
So far he has raised £2,500 – well above his initial target of £1,000 – and more money continues to flow in.
The money will be split between Cancer Research UK and a local charity – the Devizes Opportunity Centre, which works with disabled children.
“Our grandson, Ethan, has achondroplasia [a cause of dwarfism]. He is six years old and is adorable – the Opportunity Centre helped tremendously with him and in supporting all the family.”
People can donate to Mr Beale’s causes online.
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