Everton and Liverpool legends joined forces for charity as around 150 fundraisers arrived at Hill Dickinson Stadium for the first leg of a gruelling 360-mile walk.
Everton Giant Peter Reid, Stuart Barlow and Club Ambassadors Ian Snodin and Graham Stuart joined around 150 walkers who visited Hill Dickinson Stadium for the first leg of the third annual ‘March of the Day’ fundraiser.
The mammoth 360-mile walk, in aid of Motor Neurone Disease (MND), began at Anfield on Monday morning, before heading to Everton’s waterfront stadium for their second port of call, where they were welcomed inside for a team photo.
Over the next six days, a host of professional footballers and rugby stars will join fundraisers and supporters from different clubs in travelling across the north, visiting 50 football and rugby league grounds and ending their journey at the Rob Burrow Centre for MND – the first purpose-built centre dedicated entirely to Motor Neurone Disease – based at Seacroft Hospital in Leeds.
The walkers’ sole aim is to raise as much money as possible in the battle against MND, in memory of Burrow and Chris Rimmer and in support of former professionals Stephen Darby and Marcus Stewart – both of whom are battling the disease.
Donations are welcome here, with all money raised to be split equally between the Darby Rimmer MND Foundation and Leeds Hospitals.
Merseyside was united in aid of the cause, with the high-profile Everton contingent –who presented a signed Everton shirt to the organisers, joined by Emile Heskey, Chris Kirkland, Stephen Wright and David Fairclough, representing the red half of the city.
Stephen Darby and his wife, former Lionesses captain Steph Houghton, also joined the walkers at the start of their leg-sapping journey across the region.
Fundraising Totals Approach Half a Million Pounds as Walking Teams Target Leeds Finale
The continuous multi-city trek relies on a rotating cohort of sporting figures to maintain awareness and drive digital donations across the cross-country route.
Organiser Mike Wilson, Event Lead and a Patron of the Darby Rimmer MND Foundation, named after founding members Stephen Darby and Chris Rimmer, said:
“This is the third big run that we have done, and already we’ve raised over £75,000, which means we are close to raising over half a million in total for the charities.
“It’s humbling to see the number of ex-pros in football and rugby league who are stepping up for this one.
“There are around 100 of them taking part in this whole event, and many more people joining us throughout the event, so along the way they will be joined by around 950 people in all, which is amazing.”
Merseyside Rivals Set Aside Footballing Differences to Fight Motor Neurone Disease
The collaborative local launch highlighted a shared community response to the progressive neurological condition, drawing prominent support from across the city’s sporting landscape.
Steph Houghton added,
“This means everything to our family.
“The Darby Rimmer MND Foundation was set up seven years ago and we never envisioned it being this big.
“To see so many people giving up their time at work and hours to take part in March of the Day, and walking into Anfield and Hill Dickinson Stadium, makes this another overwhelming morning.
“There is no cure for MND yet, and the foundation supports families that are going through what we are, through funds and awareness.
“It’s hard, it’s tough and it’s a long road, but the wider community of MND is growing and growing and if we can support each other it makes it that little bit easier.
“Stephen is from Liverpool and played for the club, but his family is divided red and blue, so when it comes to something like this, it shows there’s more important things in life.
“So, to see Everton and Liverpool come together says a lot about the people from this city, and we’re very grateful that we’re all pulling together in the same direction.”
Anyone wishing to donate and support the worthwhile cause can do so here.
READ MORE: Award-Winning Writers and Poets Set to Visit Knowsley for Inaugural Literature Festival
