John Goldie
John's 500km 5-Stadium Cycle Ride
Fundraising for Sands, the stillbirth and neonatal death charity
Story
For my 5 for 5 Challenge, I will be taking on a 500km cycle ride visiting 5 of the biggest and most recognised football stadiums in the country:
- Old Trafford (capacity - 76,100)
- Emirates Stadium (60,432)
- Anfield (45,362)
- King Power Stadium (32,500)
- Craven Cottage (25,678)
I don't even own a bike. Yet.
Thinking up a challenge that is sufficiently big and, well, challenging, was difficult. However, in the last few years I have seen a number of friends cycle various distances for charity and while my immediate reaction is often "Why would they put themselves through it?", it is quickly followed by admiration for what they have achieved. So I thought, "Why not? I can do that, after all, it's just sitting down, right?".
I also wanted it to have relevance to me and to my relationship with Seamus. As Aoife's pregnancy with our first son progressed, we would regularly tease each other about whether he would be a footballer for England or a rugby player for Ireland. While it was mainly to wind up Aoife, I was seriously excited about those typical father/son experiences: watching football on TV together on a lazy Sunday afternoon, heading out to the local park matches on a cold, wintry Saturday or taking in Premier League matches around London, even heading up to Anfield.
Whilst I look forward to doing all those things with Hugo and Pia, it still stings that I'll never get to introduce Seamus to the beautiful game.
Sands have been unbelievably supportive to us since we were given the worst news a parent can receive back in 2011. They are so important to the thousands of families every year whose babies die just before, during or soon after birth. I would love to raise as much money as possible for both of our chosen charities and our target of £5000 feels high but achievable, so please do help out and give what you can.
** Why these 5 stadiums? Old Trafford in Manchester is the largest club stadium in the country, followed by Arsenal's Emirates Stadium in London. Anfield is a no-brainer given that my team is Liverpool and it is the top tier stadium that I have probably been to the most often in my life. Leicester's King Power is a stretch - but it works nicely having a Midlands stadium on route and as the Premier League Champions-in-waiting, it feels an entirely justified inclusion (date stamp Jan 29th)! Finally I have chosen Craven Cottage. This stadium always stands out in my memory, having been there to witness the arrival of a true Liverpool legend making his first team debut in the Coca-Cola Cup back in 1993. Robbie Fowler scored the final goal in a 3-1 rain-soaked match that day and all 5 in the second leg two weeks later! (Not to mention it brings me nicely back home to west London) **
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