Botham set to 'walk' into knighthood

Former England great Ian Botham should start getting used to being referred to as 'Sir', as he is set to be knighted for his pathbreaking charity walks, having raised £10 million for children with leukaemia.

Botham, already an OBE (Order of the British Empire), is set to embrace knighthood after his 11 walks. He will get the recognition during the Queen's Birthday Honours on June 16.

"Ian Botham was a fabulous cricketer but his selfless charity work is out of this world. His fund-raising is first-class and no one, absolutely no one, deserves an honour more than him," British daily The Mirror quoted a royal source on Saturday.


"At a time when the honours system has been in the spotlight, his knighthood will be deserved recognition of outstanding public service," the source added.

Botham, one of cricket's all-time leading all-rounders, has been on a never-ending crusade against Leukemia and raising money for Leukemia Research througout England and the rest of the world.

A self-proclaimed "Prisoner of walk", Botham has vowed not to stop his crusade until the dreadly disease is wiped out completely.

"It's a bit like being in the trenches. I have to finish this walk and that's that. I never think of failing. I think of myself as a PoW - Prisoner of the Walk - and I'll only be free when we reach Lands End," he said.

"Ian has vowed never to give up until all children and young people with leukaemia survive," a close associate of Botham added.