Intrepid explorers put their best foot forward as they headed to seven football grounds across Notts in aid of Prostate Cancer UK.
A group of Carlton Town supporters visited the other non league football clubs on foot on Saturday, March 14 before finishing at the club’s home ground, the Bill Stokeld.
The four early risers began at 5am at Gedling Miners Welfare on Plains Road, with sub zero starts possibly contributing to the swift early progress, with the group making it to their first checkpoint, at Arnold Town, ahead of schedule. The team were met by Steve Holland, the Arnold Chairman and his wife, Sharron who provided pastries and coffee as well as an eighty pound contribution collected from their supporters.
Keen to build on the good start, the team headed back into Nottingham, making excellent progress from Basford United to Radford FC and then to Dunkirk FC where the walkers were welcomed with yet more non league hospitality, donations and support during a brief pit stop.
More walkers joined as the second half got underway with running repairs being made to blistered feet at Clifton All Whites before the team of seven remaining walkers pressed on past the gridlocked roads around West Bridgford as they headed for their penultimate stop on Regatta Way and home of West Bridgford Colts.
Then, the final and longest leg of the twenty seven mile route, a five and a half mile trek over Lady Bay Bridge with the hum of the Notts County ground as the Magpies battled Chesterfield, and onto Daleside Road East and Colwick Loop Road.
The whole journey took nine and a half hours. The running fundraising total so far is £2,710 – exceeding the £2000 target.
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in the UK. One in eight men will get it. Early intervention aids survival rates so the team welcome any more donations over the next few days.
A spokesman for the group said: “A special thank you to the walkers. Whether they did one leg or the whole route, they were part of a fantastic effort. Thanks too goes to the non league community of Nottingham.
From cascading of information on club socials to biscuits and coffee on route on the day, so energising for the team and very much appreciated and also to the support car driver who met the group at key intervals.”
You can still back the walk with donations at their JustGiving: https://www.justgiving.com/team/nottinghamnonleaguegroundhop
