DOZENS of friends and family of Altrincham teenager Chad Mullholland are taking part in a walk of hope on what would have been his 21st birthday.

The Altrincham Grammar School for Boys pupil died from Hodgkins Lymphoma in August 2008, just days after celebrating impressive A Level results and two weeks before his 18th birthday.

On Saturday September 3, Chad’s family and friends will take part in The Christie’s 10k Walk of Hope through Tatton Park to remember Chad on what would have been a milestone birthday.

“It was fate, as soon as I saw the date I just knew that I had to do that walk,” Chad’s mum Michelle, 45, said.

She will walk alongside her husband Andrew, 45, daughters Pia, 17 and Tilly, 11, Chad’s bet friend Bruce Edwards, other family members and friends.

A month after Chad’s death, Michelle teamed up with sixth form staff at Altrincham Grammar School to create Chad’s Challenges, to raise money for The Christie.

In three years Chad’s Challenge has raised more than £36,000 for The Christie, plus thousands for Genesis, the Willows Foundation, MIND and other good causes.

Michelle said Chad’s Challenge was a way of carrying his name on and reminding people what an inspiration he was.

“Sometimes it can be very emotionally draining but it is worth it knowing that Chad’s name will never die,” she said.

Altrincham resident Sally Dynevor, who plays Sally Webster in the ITV soap Coronation Street, and was treated for breast cancer in 2009, will also take part in the walk, which is for anyone who has been touched by cancer in some way.

To make a donation to Chad’s fund visit hopefunds.christies.org/smartweb/funds/view/16