Football fans Isaac and Ethan want to raise funds and awareness from the challenge
Isaac Thompson, left, and Ethan Jackets on a recent challenge to scale Snowdon for mental health charity Mind
Isaac Thompson, left, and Ethan Jackets on a recent challenge to scale Snowdon for mental health charity Mind(Image: supplied image)
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Two football fans from Hull are planning to walk for four days to raise funds and awareness for a charity close to their hearts. Liverpool supporter Ethan Jackets and Leeds supporter Isaac Thompson are challenging themselves to hike a route of around 100 miles between Anfield and Elland Road next April.
The idea is the pair will reach the home of Leeds United in time for the West Yorkshire club’s home clash with The Reds - and watch the match as a finale to their endeavours. They have decided to make the gruelling journey in memory of Ethan’s grandma and to support the charity Dementia UK.
Ethan lives in Hull and Isaac, who is originally from east of the city, last year arranged the Ultimate Hull Walk and Talk in support of Mysterious Minds, a charity that aims to prevent suicide and helps families affected by it. Isaac said: “Me and Ethan are pals who grew up together and went to school together.
“Ethan wanted to do something in memory of his grandma, Hilda. He came to me and said, ‘what ideas have you got?’”
Isaac came up with the Anfield to Elland Road walk - a distance that’s “80 miles on the map”. The safer route to walk that has been drawn up is slightly over 100 miles.
Isaac and Ethan's Anfield to Elland Road challenge takes place next April
Isaac and Ethan's Anfield to Elland Road challenge takes place next April(Image: supplied image)
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The duo tested their endurance recently by scaling Snowdon, raising just over £600 for mental health charity Mind. Isaac said the plan was to depart Anfield on April 20, 2027, walking across the country to reach Elland Road by April 24.
“I’ve planned it so we frontload the first two days, doing 30 miles both days, then ease off a bit on the following two days. I’ve reached out to a few hotels along the route who are helping us with free accommodation.
“We’re planning to document the walk on TikTok so people can follow our progress. We’re really looking forward to it; it’s a big challenge.”
Further ahead, the pals would like to embark on a greater challenge and have been talking about “walking from London to Paris” for a children’s charity. A JustGiving appeal page has been set up for the Anfield to Elland Road walk, with a target of £2,500.
The page says: “We’re doing the walk in memory of Hilda, Ethan’s grandma, who lived with dementia before she passed away. Although dementia was not the cause of her death, she experienced the condition during her life, and we wanted to take on something meaningful in her memory while supporting other people and families affected by dementia.
“Walking around 20 miles a day for four days is going to be a massive physical and mental challenge for us, but having Hilda’s memory and such an important cause behind us will give every mile a purpose. Football is bringing the challenge together — starting at one iconic stadium and finishing at another — but the reason behind the walk is much bigger than football.
“Every donation, no matter how big or small, will help us towards our £2,500 target and support the incredible work Dementia UK does for families affected by dementia.”
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