Everton legend Peter Reid, FA Cup winner Stuart Barlow and club ambassadors Ian Snodin and Graham Stuart joined red scousers Emile Heskey, Chris Kirkland, Stephen Wright and David Fairclough and around 150 walkers who headed from Anfield to Hill Dickinson Stadium for the first leg of the third, annual ‘March of the Day’ fundraiser yesterday.
The 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.
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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’ 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, with all monies raised to be split equally between the Darby Rimmer MND Foundation and Leeds Hospitals.
Stephen Darby and his wife, former Lionesses captain and Man City star, and TV punditry regular, Steph Houghton, also joined the walkers at the start of their leg-sapping journey across the region.
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.”
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”.