In 2009, after a couple of years of planning, I launched a campaign to follow the FA Cup from start to finish. The FA Cup starts on the second weekend in August with the Extra Preliminary Round, which involves 406 teams battling to continue on the 'Road to Wembley'. At each game I, my brother Robert and various friends and family would collect money from fans for Cancer Research.
Rob and I lost our dad to cancer as young boys and as a semi-pro footballer in the 1960s we thought this would an appropriate way to collect money.
We started at one of dad's former clubs, Runcorn, and would continue following the winning team in each round all the way to Wembley. Without replays there were at least 14 games ahead, but only two replays were required.
All the fundraising team at each game paid their entry to each ground, although some clubs put this money towards the collection.
I managed to go to every game apart from the semi-final and final. This was because The FA, Wembley, Met Police, Brent Council and the clubs involved (Aston Villa & Chelsea) refused to help, promote or even speak to me about the campaign.
Despite this we received lots of help from the small clubs who make this competition what it is. In total we've raised almost £4,500. The target was £5,000 and this would have been easily reached had the campaign received any help from The FA.
A huge thank you to Runcorn for helping the campaign get off to a great start and for everyone who donated, helped collect donations, attended games and the clubs we watched along the way.
My journey was detailed through a blog (http://runcorn2wembley.blogspot.com/) and tweeted via http://twitter.com/richthemaster
