Extra time for football fan who helps out with Midnight Walk
THE Manchester Midnight Walk always goes into extra time for one Heaton Norris football fan.
Every year, Dave Scally is the last to finish the 10k route through the city centre, held in aid of St Ann’s Hospice, as he collects the route markers which signpost the way for the 2,000 walkers ahead of him.
Dave has waited until nearly 5am some years for stragglers to finish, but says he does not mind in the least.
He will take his usual place at the back of the field again on Friday, June 24, happy to volunteer his services driving the hospice van as a thank you to the charity for caring for his father Tony, 58, from Heaton Moor.
Tony, a teacher at Barlow Hall Primary School, Chorlton, was a patient at the Heald Green hospice and died of pancreatic cancer in 2005, shortly before he was due to retire.
Dave, a City supporter, works as a duty manager at the National Football Museum in Manchester.
He said: “The Midnight Walk is always great fun and I did have a long wait one year when a guy on crutches was determined to finish.
“It was my birthday when my dad was in the hospice and staff put on a little party for me.
“It’s such a wonderful place and I still feel I owe them something so do what I can to make sure other families get to experience everything the hospice can offer.
“The museum’s a charity as well and needs to raise money and rely on volunteers, so I know how much St Ann’s needs sponsorship and entries for the Midnight Walk.”
Dave got involved when the original start of the walk, this year celebrating its 10th birthday, was the Etihad Stadium where he then worked as part of the operations team.
The walk leaves Manchester Central at midnight, with a musical and entertainment warm up there from 9pm.
The flat route includes landmarks such as the Hilton Hotel, old Granada Studios, Spinningfields, Manchester Arena, the Northern Quarter and the universities before returning to Manchester Central.
Entry is £20; £15 for past walkers and £10 if aged 11 to 17. To register go to mmwalk.org.uk or call the St Ann’s fundraising team on 0161 498 3631.
For more information about St Ann’s Hospice visit sah.org.uk.