Ipswich Town: Marcus Stewart on motor neurone disease walk

Stewart, the ex-Blues striker whose goals fired Town to promotion to the Premier League in 2000, was diagnosed with the condition several years ago.

The 51-year-old was one of a core team of 16 former players to take part in the ‘March of the Day’ trek, starting at the University of Bradford Stadium and travelling more than 175 miles over two-and-a-half days.

They started the challenge on Friday and completed the task on Sunday evening at Anfield in Liverpool – the ground where Stewart famously scored a winning goal in December 2000.

Darby was escorted on the march in a wheelchair (Image: PA)

Stephen Darby, the former Liverpool and Bradford City defender who was diagnosed with MND in 2018, was escorted on the route in a wheelchair.

More than 50 former players joined Stewart and Darby in support of the Darby Rimmer Foundation at various points on their walk, including Chris Kirkland, Paul Scholes, Dominic Matteo, Jill Scott and Mick McCarthy – Stewart’s former manager at Sunderland.

Speaking at the start of the march at the University of Bradford Stadium, Stewart said: “It satisfies me that I see people here, that I am part of the process to help people.

“It satisfies me that there is hope for people that can’t be able to walk whether it is they can’t walk or talk.

Town hero Marcus Stewart fired the Blues to the top flight (Image: ITFC)

"I have a voice still and still quite mobile so the message to them is don’t give up and we are trying our best to find a cure. I am part of that and I am not giving up.

“Players have to look after each other both on the pitch and after you’ve finished. It’s nice that so many ex pros that I have played with and haven’t played with are joining in the fight.

“MND lives with me. I don’t live with MND. As it stands I can do most things.”