A GROUP of friends from Westbury are tackling a 327-mile walk from AFC Bournemouth to Sunderland AFC in memory and support of Bradley Lowery, a young boy who lost his fight with cancer in July.
Bradley, from Hartlepool, was diagnosed with neuroblastoma at just 18 months. As a massive Sunderland fan, he touched the hearts of the entire team, especially ex-Sunderland player and England striker, Jermaine Defoe.
Westbury men Mark Bosher, John Williams, Andy Baxter, Andy King, Richard Edwards and Billy MacEntaggert alongside three men from Sunderland and Newcastle – Colin Cruddace, Kenny Ashton and Graeme Robinson – are to face a gruelling 327-mile walk from the Vitality Stadium in Bournemouth to Sunderland’s Stadium of Light between the 7th and 16th March 2018.
Mark Bosher said, “We are raising funds for the Bradley Lowery Foundation because as a Sunderland fan, I was aware of Bradley’s condition through his friendship with Jermaine Defoe and the TV coverage that came with it. Bradley’s story was widely known throughout the entire football community and other football clubs and fans from around the globe joined together to support his fight. My sister worked for the Rainbow Trust when Bradley had his cancer the first time around and she worked with the family, looking after Bradley during his treatment.”
Fans from Newcastle, Leeds Utd, Tottenham Hostpur, Liverpool and Chelsea are joining Sunderland fans and aiming to raise a minimum of £5,000 to help build a holiday home in support of the recently launched ‘For Bradley’ campaign.
The walk is to be officially started by Jermaine Defoe on the 6th March with the first leg beginning at 5am on the 7th. The walk will end at 5.30pm on the 16th March and will be followed by an official presentation to Bradley’s family at Sunderland AFC’s home fixture on the 17th March.
Mark continued, “Bradley brought his fight into our homes and although he is at peace and has to fight no more, we must remember that the fight goes on for others. Please help others and support our walk.
“We have set up a Just Giving page to raise funds but we are also holding quiz nights at the Horse and Groom pub in Westbury. One will be on Tuesday 16th January and a second on Tuesday 20th February. £20 per team with a maximum of 5 people per team. ‘Good Morning Britain’ have also agreed to cover the walk from end to end and we are hoping that the publicity will drive people to the Just Giving page to donate. Our partners/wives will be travelling to Sunderland on the final day of the walk and will be stopping at various points along the route to fund raise.
“We are all very excited but understand the enormity of the task. We are training now and have three practice walks planned for Sunday 17th December 15miles around Westbury and Warminster, Sunday 14th January 25 miles from Salisbury to Westbury and Sunday 11th February 35 miles with the route TBC to assist in preparing ourselves. Abacus Motorhomes (Andover) have kindly provided us with a six-birth motorhome for our support team and to recover the walkers back to Westbury at the end of the walk.”
If you would like to support Mark and the rest of the team with their fundraising, please visit their JustGiving page on www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/mark-bosher-safc or look out for their upcoming fundraise events.
For more information about the charity walk or the quiz nights please contact Mark Bosher on 07914 540575 or email markbosher7 @hotmail.com
