Four Cumbrian dads are taking on an epic driving challenge with the support of the UK’s top football clubs to raise money for a prostate cancer charity.
Paul Donald, Mark Beattie, Mike Schofield and Barry Taylor are setting off tomorrow, Friday September 30, to drive to every Premiership Football League in the country, including Wembley Stadium, in just 72 hours to raise money and awareness for Prostate Cancer UK.
The drive was set up in memory of Paul Donald’s dad, Roland, who passed away from prostate cancer in 2019, inspiring Paul to take action and do something in his memory.
Roland loved football and was involved with Silloth Junior Football Club that Paul and his friend’s children play for, so the group decided to raise money for the club and Prostate Cancer UK, who have fully backed the challenge.
Mike Schofield, 37, A&E Consultant, of Kirkbride said: “We all got together and thought why don’t we visit all the Premier League grounds and we’ll raise money for it for prostate cancer, Paul agreed it would be great for his dad so we decided to run with it.
“When we finally got through COVID we put the idea back on table and the first thing we got together a plan and sent emails and letters to as many clubs as we could and I’d say about 95 per cent of the clubs have been extremely supportive.”
The group have experienced a huge outpouring of support from local businesses, charities, including The Steven Gerrard Foundation and top football clubs across the country. They also received a video message of support from comedian and football impressionist Darren Farley.
Several of the clubs and charities have sent the group signed football shirts to auction off to help them pass their goal of £5,000. A variety of vouchers for spa treatments, restaurants and other venues have also been donated by local businesses for the raffle set to take place after the marathon.
Mike added: “We had a brilliant response from Bristol Street Motors, who came back saying they were prepared to lend us a vehicle for the trip, it has got our logo on it, as well as the logo’s of some of our big sponsors. It’s just fantastic and most of the clubs are letting us get the car as close to the grounds as we can.
“We’re absolutely thrilled to bits to where we’ve got to with the money raised- we know with auctioning we will reach the target and hopefully more and were just excited to get going and start off the challenge.”
When asked what the trip meant to him, Mike said it was more than just a great chance to raise awareness and money for Prostate Cancer UK.
He added: “It’s been good for us to do for Paul, since his dad died has had a really struggle health wise over the last year. He’s had a stroke and to be honest myself, Mark and Baz, the reason were doing it is more than just for the fundraising and raising awareness.
“It’ll be good fun it’s going to be two nights away and lots of good banter and crack. But for me its been helpful for Paul and his recovery from his stroke, it’s been so good giving him something to focus on and to remember his dad how he wanted to remember him, so for me, it’s important to get him through this trip because it’s something he’s always wanted to do.
As an A&E consultant, he said that seeing the effects of prostate cancer almost every week in his role has further motivated him to be a part of the challenge.
Mike said: “But overall, it’s going to be a damn good laugh to do, we all get on really well so it should be a funny trip and if you can have fun while raising awareness helping someone who has had a really rough time, there’s not much better you can do really and if it’s all in the name of football then that’s great, because we all love football.”
Alongside the 20 premier league clubs the group are visiting, they will also be heading to several other clubs who are linked to Bristol Street Motors and Prostate Cancer UK
The team are supported by Mark Simpson, Malcolm Irving, Di Schofield, Kelly Donald, Lynsey Beattie, Julie Taylor and all at Silloth Junior Football club.
You can donate to the group’s Just Giving at www.justgiving.com/fourfellaspremiershipdrive4prostate
