A group of football fans are launching a two-pronged campaign to help fight Alzheimer’s disease.
The magnificent seven are planning to walk from London to Warwick during Dementia Action Week in May to raise funds for research.
They are also hoping to raise awareness of the disease by organising a collection of ‘football memories’ that could be exhibited throughout the country.
CUOSC are backing the campaign. Dementia is now the leading cause of death in the UK and kills more people a year than heart disease. It is vital we raise awareness and ultimately try to find a cure.
The seven fans have put aside their football rivalries to team up to do the 80-mile trek, each of them dressed as ‘Wally’, and are hoping people will support and sponsor them along the way. They have appealed to all 92 league clubs for a signed shirt or other item they can auction.
Supporters throughout the country can help by visiting https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/wallyswalk and making a donation.
They are also on a mission to raise awareness of dementia by persuading fans to talk openly about it over a ‘pie and a pint’. They plan to collect some football memorabilia from fans of every league club and put it on national display and, perhaps, even take it on tour.
If Carlisle fans would like to back the campaign by donating an old shirt, programme, picture or photograph then please let us know at info@cuosc.org.uk
One of the walkers, Terry Marsh, a Millwall fan, said: “We all support different clubs stretching from Middlesbrough in the North East to Wycombe Wanderers in Buckinghamshire.
“We have already received contributions from 30 clubs - so only another 62 to go.
“We believe it is a really important cause. We are hoping we can persuade fans to donate something with a story, perhaps, an old photo of grandad on the way to a match.
“And if we get enough items for an exhibition we hope to tour the country with it while at the same time raising awareness of Alzheimer’s.”
Manchester City, Arsenal, Crystal Palace Birmingham and Sunderland are among the growing list of clubs pledging support.