A TEAM of football-mad charity fundraisers have completed their gruelling challenged of visiting 138 British football stadiums in 138 hours - with just 18 minutes to spare.
A TEAM of football-mad charity fundraisers have completed their gruelling challenged of visiting 138 British football stadiums in 138 hours - with just 18 minutes to spare.
The team finished the demanding effort, which was carried out in aid of the Bobby Moore Fund for Cancer Research UK and The Royal Marsden Cancer Hospital, at Wembley Stadium yesterday.
A thrilled Sam Broadley, co-organiser of the Done The Lot tour, admitted the group had feared they would just miss last night's 6pm deadline.
“When we got to London it was total gridlock and we thought we weren't going to make it, but then suddenly the road just opened up and we saw the arch of Wembley in the distance,” he said.
The challenge was not without its hiccups - a missed ferry to Northern Ireland, where the team were visiting Windsor Park, nearly cost them dearly.
Sam said: “We were planning to get the 8pm ferry, but we stopped in Blackpool.
“It was a really sunny day so we thought we would have a wander. Before we knew it, we were on the dodgems and then we missed the ferry!
“We had to wait four hours to get the next one. Then it was a nightmare trying to find the stadium in Belfast. We thought we would have to leave it but then we phoned a taxi company to get directions.
“Going back to the port, it was like driving a rally. They (port staff) told us off for being late and we begged them to let us on.”
One of the group, Nick Keher, has more reason than anyone for wanting to take part after he was successfully treated for bowel cancer at the Royal Marsden Hospital in London.
He said: “I was very lucky. It is a brilliant hospital and that's why we are doing all we can.”
If you would like to sponsor the Done The Lot tour or get more information, please visit www.donethelot.com and follow the link for 'donate' or call Sam Broadley on 07793108382.
Are you taking part in an unusual challenge? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk
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