University joins mother in tribute to James
University staff and students will join a mother who is walking the length of Great Britain in memory of her only son on Friday October 3.
James Skillington (pictured right) was two years into his chemistry degree at the University before he died, aged just 22, of leukaemia. His mother, Susan, is making a 40-mile detour to pass through his former student city on her walk from John O’Groats to Lands End.
Mrs Skillington and four fellow walkers will walk past a rowan tree planted in James’s memory in the grounds of the Hancock Museum. They will be joined here by members of the Newcastle Falcons rugby team – whom James, a keen rugby player who played for the University team, supported while studying for his degree – and staff and students.
The team will be collecting donations along the way for a charity set up in James’s name – the James Skillington Challenge for Leukaemia.
The route from the University will pass by the Students’ Union, where students plan to greet them with a banner, and will continue past the Haymarket and onto Northumberland Street, Grey Street and the Tyne Bridge.
Anybody who would like to donate money can email Jschallenge@aol.com or visit the James Skillington Challenge for Leukaemia Website.
Mrs Skillington and her husband, Tony, have also set up a memorial scholarship to support students from less advantaged backgrounds wishing to study chemistry at Newcastle University. The first award will be made this academic year.
Web link to further information:
published on: 1st October 2003