THE HERO HIKERS DO IT FOR BELLA
INTREPID supporters trudged 34 miles for a fundraising away day – only for the game to then be called off!
A group of around 30 Kidderminster Harriers fans left the club’s Aggborough Stadium at around 5.30am on Tuesday morning and traipsed through the mud and pouring rain to Solihull Moors’ Damson Park stadium for their eagerly-awaited National League derby clash.
But with just four miles left to go of their marathon hike – and over 11 hours into the trek – the hero fundraisers were dealt the dreaded news that the game had succumbed to a waterlogged pitch.
The group were raising funds for Cure Leukaemia in support of
By Jon Couch
young Bella Hudson, an 11-yearold girl from Kidderminster who was diagnosed with the disease when she was just eight years old.
Support
After undergoing a bone marrow transplant at Birmingham Children’s Hospital, Bella battled through to celebrate her 10th birthday, only to be handed the heartbreaking news that the cancer had returned and genetically changed into AML (acute myeloid leukaemia), which is very aggressive.
After countless meetings, the only option available to the family was a trial type of transplant in Manchester.
Three months later, Bella continues to battle on and has recently been given the green light to return home.
Despite the weather, the walkers soldiered on and completed the walk to Solihull for Cure Leukaemia, who are funding the trial and helping to support Bella and her family.
Relentless
And even though there was no game to watch at the end of it, the exhausted walkers were still given the five-star treatment by Solihull Moors, who offered them a shower in the changing rooms and provided food and drinks.
Bella’s dad, Tom Hudson, joined the walking party and admitted it was a long, tough day.
“The most emotional was when I finished the walk and Bella FaceTimed
me and said how proud she was of me,” he told The Shuttle.
“It was seriously, seriously tough. The rain was just relentless.
“It was demoralising when the game was called off but fair play to everyone just to keep going.
“I think a lot of people can look in the mirror today and be so proud of themselves.”
Organiser Dave Pountney added: “The morale was really good. A few blisters and discomfort is nothing compared to what poor Bella has faced the last few years.”
Fans have shown huge support with the group raising more than £15,000 for Cure Leukaemia.
If you would like to donate, visit Bella’s Just Giving page at https://www.justgiving.com/ page/solihullwalk