By Joshua Robinson –
Huddersfield Town is launching this year’s Walk for Pounds in aid of Club legend Marcus Stewart, raising funds to support the Darby Rimmer Foundation.
Taking place on Saturday 30th September ahead of the home fixture against Ipswich Town, the walk will start and end at the John Smiths Stadium, with two routes available: an 18-mile and a 4-mile option.
The 18-mile walk will take in local Huddersfield landmarks such as Castle Hill and the surrounding woodland/Greenbelt areas and will include refreshments at Lockwood Park, the home of Huddersfield Rugby Union where Marcus’ two sons play.
For the first time, the Club has also organised a 4-mile accessible walk starting and finishing back at the John Smiths Stadium. Both routes will end in a lap of honour around the pitch prior to kick-off at 3 pm.
Sponsored by Chadwick Lawrence, the event is in aid of former Town favourite Marcus Stewart, who was sadly diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease on 8 September 2022.
A Club legend and arguably one of the greatest players ever to play for Huddersfield, Marcus also played for Bristol Rovers, Ipswich Town, Sunderland, Bristol City, Yeovil Town and Exeter City, and is currently Head of Player Development at Yeovil Town.
Marcus and his family have been campaigning tirelessly over the last year to help the fight against MND, and all proceeds will go to the Darby Rimmer Foundation.
Andy Booth, Huddersfield Town Ambassador, commented: “We’re really proud to be able to arrange an event for Stewy. Ever since we heard of his devastating diagnosis the Club wanted to do something special, and what better way than to dedicate our annual fundraising walk to Marcus and the fight against MND.”
“Stewy has been a big part of Huddersfield Town ever since he signed from Bristol Rovers in 1996 and for me, he is the best player to have played for the Club in the last 50 years, and one of my biggest regrets was that I never got the chance to play alongside him.”
Booth added: “This is a special event and hopefully we can get as many Huddersfield Town and Ipswich Town fans taking part to help support a fantastic cause but also to show our support to Marcus and his family in what will be their toughest battle. We’ve included a shorter walk that will be accessible for wheelchairs and prams to try and be as inclusive as possible. We want to show our collective appreciation of a truly special person during the lap of honour before the Ipswich game.”
Peter Harling of Chadwick Lawrence, Miles For Marcus title sponsor, added: “Marcus Stewart was one of the finest players to have played for Huddersfield Town in my lifetime, and I was really sad to hear of the devastating news that he had been diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease.”
“The MND community and the awareness that people like the late great Doddie Weir, Rob Burrow, Kevin Sinfield, Marcus, and the Darby Rimmer MND Foundation have created for the same is extraordinary. Health and wellness is at the core of everything we do at Chadwick Lawrence so we were extremely proud, honoured and only too pleased to be asked to support such a worthwhile cause and help play our part in creating further awareness to find a cure for MND.”
Harling added: “I would encourage as many of you as possible to dust down your walking boots and support Marcus and the Darby Rimmer MND Foundation by walking Miles for Marcus.”
Registration for the walks is now open, please click HERE to sign-up. Details of how to pay the registration fee will be at the end of the survey.
- Longer Walk: £25 registration fee per person / Minimum of £100 sponsorship each.
- Shorter Walk: £15 registration fee per person / Minimum of £30 sponsorship each.
In due course all participants will be emailed with details of the day including timings, the complete route and fundraising information. Fundraising for the event will be via the Just Giving platform.
As an early indication, the longer walk (18 miles) is expected to start at roughly 7am, and the shorter walk (4 miles) to start at roughly 11am.
The minimum age for participants to walk either route unaccompanied is 14, and please note anyone between the ages of 14 and 16 will require a signed parental consent form. Children under the age of 14 can take part in the event but will need to be accompanied by an adult aged 18 or over. Parental consent forms will be emailed to those who require them.
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