Fundraising with football stars

A production operator from Ashford’s ITL branch has taken part in an intense fundraising challenge alongside some famous faces.

Mike Helme dusted off his walking boots and took to the streets of Merseyside as part of Jeff Stelling’s March for Men, a charity walk in aid of Prostate Cancer UK.

Sky football show presenter Mr Stelling organised the 15-day march, which set off on Friday, June 2, with more than 600 marchers trekking 400 miles from Exeter City’s St James Park stadium to Newcastle United’s St James’s Park.

Along the way, they stopped to visit 40 football clubs and meet some football heroes.

Mr Helme, who has worked at the Ashford headquarters of ITL for two years, initially set a target of £300 but managed to raise a phenomenal £1,007.80.

He joined the march on day six, which started at Chester FC, walking via Tranmere Rovers and Liverpool FC, before reaching the finishing line at Goodison Park, the home of Everton FC, and walked the route alongside ex-Arsenal player Charlie Nicholas and Liverpool FC great Mark Lawrenson.

Mr Helme said: “We ended up walking 28.4 miles but luckily the rain held off right until the finish line. I had a great day meeting some famous faces from the sporting and media world and heard some sad stories along the way of people affected by this cancer.

“Thanks to all who have donated.”

For more information about March for Men visit marchformen.org/jeffsmarch.

Jeff Stelling and Mike Helme; Some of the participants of March for Men