3 Challenges Vs Cancer
Inspired by his family’s Cancer diagnoses and the continual Joe Thompson Appeal, Graham Hicks looked to raised funds by members of Team Hicks, including Keith, Daniel, Colette and Oliver taking on three challenges over March & April, the finishing lines being at three Rochdale AFC matches. These being a 7 mile run to Oldham Athletic for the Flatcap derby, a 22 mile walk to Altrincham FC on Good Friday followed by a 55 mile bike ride to the Crown Oil Arena for the home match against AFC Fylde on Easter Monday, it seemed a great idea at the time but feelings are it may have been a little over ambitious as the games approached.
The first event went pretty well with five of the family from Oliver, aged 14 to Keith in his seventies completing including the run down Oldham/Rochdale Road then Sheepfoot Lane proving to be quite decent and amazingly, a stop to collect a contribution from Martyn Slater round Queensway, which was really nice and well received followed by over £800 bucket collection outside Boundary Park, many thanks to Martin Vose at their Community Trust for permission for this on behalf of the Latics.
The trip to Altrincham FC proved a far harder affair with blisters starting for the old man after approximately 5 miles but donations of £70 from Mark Williams and Mike Wilcock, a former Community Trust Coach, before we had passed through Castleton were well received and a timely reminder why we were spending Easter holidays trekking round Greater Manchester. There were some strange looks as the 3 Challenges Vs Cancer T-shirts were spotted at the Football Museum, City Centre, Old Trafford (Joe’s first Club during his football career) and along the canal leading to Altrincham but seven hours later, the party arrived at Moss Lane and again through a gesture from the Community Trust saw a bucket collection of £200+ added to the previous total.
Four days later Graham and Daniel took on a bike ride, starting at Mill Farm Sports Village and finishing at Dale eight hours later taking in conveniently named venues at:
P reston
R oach Bridge
O swaldtwistle
S ummerseat
T ottington
A insworth
T ottington
E denfield
Along the way in foul weather, I actually felt sorry for them as they made their way across Grange Road with a long tail of cars, some venting their anger at a pair of cyclists causing them hassle but unfazed they made a most welcomed appearance at half time during the 0-0 draw.
David Brooks and members of the Rochdale Walking Football Team assisted in bucket collecting with another huge amount of over £600 raised to accompany online donations that now puts the overall total raised at £4,050, far more than anticipated many months ago.
There has been so many people to thank during this journey including all mentioned above plus the four Professional Clubs for allowing us to use their facilities, David Dockerty for mentions on Roach Valley Radio and Bolton FM, Greg Jones for local coverage, Tony Bugby for contacts in football media and others I have missed.
Lastly, I would like to thank again all the family plus the wife, Kath, for supporting this initiative, which apparently has been muted to happen again in some sort of guise next year?????
Anyone wishing to make a contribution, please go to the links below:
https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/3-points-vs-cancer-challenge-145926
http://www.gofundme.com/f/Team-Thompson-against-cancer-again