The 4TH OVER 50's 11-aside WALK FOOTBALL MATCH

Is being held again this year at Newport Pagnell Football Club main stand which has kindly been donated for the 4th year running.

This is an annual event held by MK Walkers FC who work tirelessly within the community have established themselves as a force for good helping raise awareness around mental health and raised money for both SOBS and CALM over the last few years.

This event is unlike other football events as it is an 11-aside match played on grass with a combination of over 50's walking football rules plus the introduction or 11-aside rules such as off side and full size goals and pitch.

There is no running, no over head and no heavy tackling but the rest is the same as normal. It is hard going and not something guys aged 50 - 75 often get to do.

The event was started back in 2019 by John & Debbie McHale who sadly lost their 19yr old son Johnathon to suicide. John wanted to return some of the support he received after losing Johnathon by creating this event along with the club he owes so much to regarding his own mental health. Without MK Walkers FC and the great bunch of players who support each other things might have been very different.

Each year player and outside donations helped our football club raise £2250 for SOBS, a great achievement and one which will benefit so many families who use the charity on a daily basis.

Sarah Rushworth & John McHale both facilitate the Milton Keynes SOBS support group which meets with survivors face to face every month. Sadly the faces change each month as more families become torn apart through the tragic loss to suicide and it is vital that those families can find the support and understanding they need.

Across the country there are in excess of 65 SOBS groups and they need every donation in order to keep them going and bring awareness to this growing problem which has been compounded after the covid lockdown.

Suicide shatters lives so we all need to play a part in bringing an end to this terrible problem which has been heightened through current events and social media.

All donations however big or small are sincerely welcome and very much appreciated with everything going to the charity.

As for the guys on the pitch who will be puffing and panting trying to stay upright whilst your legs turn to jelly, we thank you. You are all heroes for taking part, making a donation and supporting a worthy charity whilst helping a fellow team mate and his family remember their son who would have loved to have taken part had his life not been cut short at the very beginning of his adult life.

Thanks for taking the time to visit our JustGiving page.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

As a side note the MK Walkers FC have been supported by CALM who supplied kits to the club 2022. The club went on to help CALM raise an eye watering £500,000+ during the Times appeal which was something we were proud to be featured in.

MK Walkers FC have also received funding through the MK Community Foundation who helped with vital life saving equipment.