Football juniors step out in aid of coach

AROCHDALE junior football club really stepped up their fundraising efforts for one of their coaches by completing a gruelling 24-hour walk around Hollingworth Lake.

Coach Kyle Dearden was diagnosed with myeloid leukaemia last month and since then the community has carried out a number of fundraising events to help pay for private treatment that will help his recovery.

Kyle, 31, from Littleborough, Rochdale, has coached the under 8s and under 9s at Sapere Aude Football Academy in Rochdale for the last three years.

His seven-year-old son Parker plays in the team and Kyle, who works as manager at a plastics production firm, gives up every Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday to help young players develop their game.

And over the Easter weekend coaches, young players, parents and their families united for a 24-hour walk at Hollingworth Lake.

The walk got under way in style with Manchester City loaning a replica Champions League trophy so the children could get a photo with it.

And then the walkers set off at 10.30am on Easter Saturday with Kyle completing the first few 2.2-mile laps with his son, team members and others.

Young players carried charity buckets along the way with one six-yearold player, Darcie Bennett, completing an epic 10 laps and clocking up more than 20 miles.

Other young players ran laps and stayed until the sun was setting to collect as much as they could.

And as the dark set in around a dozen walkers continued to clock up laps around the lake. They kept on going with five walkers completing the full 24 hours clocking up more than 25 laps, almost 60 miles and more than 120,000 steps.

The final lap was emotional as Kyle joined the walkers again and players, parents and coaches all united for the final 2.2 miles and ended to huge applause and lots of tears.

Club chairman Marc Wright said: “Kyle’s diagnosis hit us all like a tonne of bricks and we were determined to do something special to help raise as much as we can.

“The idea was to do an endurance challenge, a once in a lifetime challenge that would hopefully raise much more awareness than a standard charity football game.

“What happened then was unbelievable, the reaction, not just amongst players, parents and coaches from Sapere Aude but also the wider grassroots community.

“We had six-year-olds doing 10 laps, we had 8-year-olds staying 24 hours, honestly it was amazing.

“The camaraderie between everyone involved, we laughed, we limped but most importantly we all pulled each other through a lap or two. I’d personally on behalf of everyone involved at Sapere Aude would like to thank each and every person.

“Whether they did a lap or two laps and all the way up to 25+ laps.

“The sense of togetherness and accomplishment when we crossed the line at 11.30am Sunday morning was incredible! Also, anyone who sponsored people or dropped a few pounds into one of the many collection buckets during the day. It means so much to us all.

“What started as a challenge to help raise money for Kyle’s treatment turned into something bigger. We realised we were more than a local grassroots football club, we were a community!

“A community of people of all ages, races and genders.

“All pulling together to help out a lad in his hour of need. That for me on top of any money raised will always stick with me.”

Kyle added: “I would like to thank each and every person who has taken time out of their life to contribute in any way, whether taking part in the walk, donating, your words or even the odd cuddle.

“I would like to give a mention to all the kids who clocked up some serious miles and everyone who attempted and finished the 24-hour walk, you are braver people than I am.

“I am honestly overwhelmed with the amount of people that have turned up to make this fight easier and it’s nice knowing that the support is there.

“The amount of money raised so far is incredible and will help me carry on with the private treatment which will aid in hopefully a faster recovery.

“I’m lost for words with what this club has put together, it’s more than just a club to me now, it’s a family.”

The walkers were supported throughout by Lara Lord who organised fundraising buckets, food for pitstops, raffle prizes and co-ordinated the mammoth event.

It is hoped it will raise in the region of £15,000 which will help fund private treatment at Positive IV in Rochdale which specialises in Vitamin C and IV Therapy.