FOOTBALL FAN TAKES ON 180- MILE WALK TO RAISE VITAL FUNDS FOR HOSPICE
ACELTIC fan will be walking 180 miles to raise vital funds for a hospice close to his heart. When supporters were banned from entering stadiums earlier this year, Brian Haughey took it upon himself to incorporate his love for the Hoops into a fundraising drive.
The 34- year- old from Rutherglen will be walking from Kilbryde Hospice in East Kilbride to Celtic Park for every home league game of the season.
Brian said: “Knowing I wasn’t getting into the games, I decided at the start of the season to do something different.
“A good friend of mine is the chief executive of the hospice, so it’s been in my life for around 10 years.
“Due to the coronavirus pandemic this year, the hospice has been losing thousands of pounds a month and has had several fundraising events cancelled.
“Although this isn’t putting them at risk, I just wanted to do something to help raise some funds.”
The walk is around 9.5 miles long and takes Brian between two and two- and- a- half hours.
Despite having to self- isolate after catching Covid- 19 and missing the planned date for the sixth walk, Brian recovered and arranged to walk on a later date instead.
Brian said: “Me and my dad caught it at the same time.
“He was really ill but didn’t have
to spend time in hospital. You wouldn’t be able to tell I had it, I only had a cough and a temperature and that was the only two symptoms.
“But when I done my next walk it took it out of me, I was really tired and deflated.
“My dad is on the mend again after self- isolating.”
More than £ 6000 has been raised with 13 walks still to go.
Brian added: “I’m so overwhelmed by the amount of people that have got behind me. I’ve had ex- players such as Tom Boyd sharing my posts on social media.
“Having strangers message me and sponsor me is absolutely amazing – I can’t thank everyone enough.
“This is all about raising money for a place that does an amazing job.”
To donate, visit justgiving. com/ fundraising/ brian- haughey.