Young boy walks staggering 288 miles around Cornwall after family cancer battle
A young boy has set himself the challenge of walking the coast of Cornwall to raise money for Cornwall Hospice Care after losing his grandad to cancer. Ethan Mudd, 11, is set to walk 288 miles from Penzance to Bude and then from Plymouth back to Lands End, to raise money after his grandad's battle with lung cancer.
Ethan's grandad, Robin Mudd, sadly passed away after a short battle with lung cancer after being diagnosed in May 2024. The disease spread quickly to his brain and his health rapidly declined until he became paralysed on one side of his body.
As Robin's cancer tragically took hold quickly, he wasn't offered the chance of radiotherapy, chemotherapy or immunotherapy. He was hospitalised shortly after his diagnosis before he was transferred to St Julia's Hospice for end-of-life care. Robin peacefully passed away 12 weeks after his diagnosis with his wife, Sue, and son beside him.
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Robin spent his final week under the care of St Julia’s Hospice in Hayle, where Ethan was supported by their therapy dog, Rooster. The family has said that the support and care provided by St Julia's Hospice were "beyond any we could have ever imagined."
Speaking to CornwallLive, Ethan's mum, Cat said: "The hospice is an absolute haven of care and compassion and support. The staff are beyond incredible.
"Ethan wanted to set a big challenge to raise money for the hospice and to do something for us all to get fitter and spend time together as a family whilst doing so. It's a great focus to have for our own mental and physical health. We have completed our first two walks and cannot wait to do the rest."
Ethan began his fundraising when he was just seven years old. He has already completed four Race's for Life. Cat said he was in the middle of planning a triathlon to raise money for a sports trip when his grandad was diagnosed with cancer. After finding out the news, Ethan decided that he would split the fundraising.
He ran his first Race for Life at the age of seven, in April 2021. The following summer, he took part in the Penzance 5k Race for Life, dressed as Spider-Man. Ethan then ran the Pretty Muddy 5K Race for Life in Plymouth the next month, where he had the support of Grandad Robin.
At ten years old he took part in his own triathlon, which consisted of a 6k run with his mum, a 1,000m swim with his dad and nan, finished with a 10k bike ride with his dad. It was during the planning of the triathlon that grandad Robin, was diagnosed with lung cancer.
Ethan has set an ambitious £2,000 target for his year-long challenge of walking the coast of Cornwall with all the money going to Cornwall Hospice Care. Ethan's nan, Sue, will be supporting him along the way by being his personal taxi driver to each starting location.
Ethan will be walking this weekend from Cape Cornwall, past Greevor Tin Mine to Pendeen Watch. People and supporters have been encouraged to join him on his journey as he completes the first ten miles of the total 288.
Cat has set up a Facebook page, Cornwall Coast Path Challenge 2025, to post updates and promote the Just Giving page. You can follow their page here and find the donations page here.