Setting off for Liverpool this year I was really relaxed,  I pretty much knew that everything was in place and we just had to get up to Sheffield and get started. Waking up on Wednesday April 3^rd I planned to do a little 3-4 mile leg stretch as I had not run since the previous Friday, that day I had done a 20 mile run and felt absolutely drained I think I was exhausted from almost 24hr days for weeks on end. I felt great and did not have the nervousness that I felt the year before, I just felt really happy with everything whilst keeping the team on time for setting off at 11 am. We had an appointment to keep at The Children’s Hospital, Sheffield so things had to run smoothly. I knew going in to see the kids was going to be tough but I was not prepared for just how tough. Meeting Aidan who is the same age as my daughter Grace and hearing how he had been diagnosed with Leukaemia only two months earlier was gut wrenching, he has three and a half years of tough treatment ahead of him, how do you even begin to cope with that? Aidan seemed to do it with a big smile on his face and his family the same.

After a truly rewarding visit to the hospital Mik and some of his friends had organised some food for us, it was a challenge in itself! The food was awesome and I don’t think there was much danger of us running out. Mik, I have learned, is not one for being under prepared which will bode well if/when he joins the running team. I don’t think anyone went to bed that night hungry, it really was a feast and hats off to all who helped. Thank you

Thursday April 4^th 2013 was upon us, months and months of hard work, training and plenty of sleepless nights, this was it. Getting 20 people a minibus and a van to a football stadium might sound like a walk in the park but believe me it is not. Great credit goes to the whole team for a fairly stress less morning. Starting the run from on the pitch at Hillsborough(Special thanks to SWFC and Trevor Braithwait in particular)is a really special and emotional time for the team, for some it brings back deep unwanted memories that I can only begin to imagine the horror of. We get to the stadium in plenty of time to do our interviews with various news sources and then prepare to get the 96 miles under way.

We set off in good time and had 32 gruelling miles ahead of us, some through a foot of snow with boggy conditions under that. I absolutely love the challenge of that first day, it is a steady and fairly flat climb for about 16 miles then BANG this one and a half mile hill smacks you straight in the face, made worse this year because it was bloody freezing up on top of the Pennines and if I am honest I would admit to being a little underdressed. For me though the beauty of what is at the top of that hill when you turn around makes it all worthwhile and knowing that most of the route from that point is both easy on the body and the eye. Scott and Chris were both struggling, Chris with a chest infection which would later rule him out and Scott, well Scott just had issues. As ever on this run though we all pulled through and got to our end point, got in the van and made our way to Bredbury Hall.

Day 2 was to see Peter Reid, ex Everton player, join us for a couple of miles and what a top guy he is, he was a real pleasure to have along. The second day proved to be our most difficult last year and I think it did again this year but for very different reasons. Last year saw us lost from almost the word go, taking in many of the sights of Stockport, Didsbury, Warrington and Widnes with one or two rugby clubs thrown in, proving in hindsight to have a real bad effect on the team leading in to the last day, a real nightmare. This year it just seemed long and for the most part boring, the stop at Carrington was inspired and being able to unfurl our banner and give the 5 times salute was just brilliant, their fans stood outside looked a bit confused by it all! I think Day 2 is and indeed has become the day we just need to dig in and get done, it is  completely thankless day that seems to go on forever. This is part of the challenge though and as a team we ground it out and got it done!

Day 3 and I think the team were quite excited, we had a few things to look forward to. I was a little worried about the day ahead as we had a couple of moments on Day 2 (it happens, it’s how you go forward!) but I need not have, I am not one for shedding tears but the pride I felt running from the hotel in Widnes to the moment we raced through the Shankly gates was unreal, the tightness of the runners and how they all got each other home was great to watch, I spent a lot of time at the back on day 3 and just want to say well done to you all, you were brilliant!

With less than two miles to go we were greeted by the sight of Melanie C, her brother Paul, David Price and Craig Phillips, they had come to join us and lend their feet to us “In memory of the 96 for a brighter future” we were all really happy to see them and gave us a real boost, then with around half a mile left we were greeted by Sue Roberts, Steve Kelly, Claire Mcglone from the Hillsborough groups, two MP’s Andy Burnham and Steve Rotheram who have both worked tirelessly on the Justice campaign and Darren Farley who have all supported the run magnificently. We can’t thank you all enough. I had received a lot of texts from DJ Spoony who had missed his train but still to his credit made the journey and was there for the team at the end, a real nice guy who went out of his way to be there.

All in all we can as a team be very proud of what we have just done and will continue to do each year from now. My intention before this run was to always have different children’s causes each year but seeing the work of these two amazing Hospitals has changed that. We will learn from each run and do some things slightly different but our message will remain the same “In memory of the 96 for a brighter future”

Dom

The post In memory of the 96 for a brighter future appeared first on Hillsborough-Anfield Run.

Upon joining the team, I was unsure why we needed 13 support staff, boy was I uneducated on the amount of work it takes to get 7 lads through 96 miles uninjured, fed, watered and cleaned!

We barely had to lift a finger, there were ice baths ready for us, our clothes were all washed, and these guys are amazing. I tried to thank them all continuously as we went through the week but I don’t think you can thank them enough.

The support team, Mik (the nicest man in the world), Ammo (Funny, loud and loves to wind up Peter Reid), Neil (big lad, ex bouncer (you wouldn’t mess)), Dean (lots of hats), Niki (made Mel C fall asleep during their quick photograph) were all fantastic. I cannot thank them enough.

The immediate support team on the road, Ben (Navigator), guided us home with no fuss or hassle and always took time to check the runners were well and if they needed anything, be it drinks, food, or in my case toilet paper…

Jordan (2nd support on the bike) – Jordan ensured that everyone had everything they needed, and also acted as a lookout when anyone needed to do what a bear does in the woods. I hoped this was not some fetish and did it with good intentions. I assumed the latter.

I am running out of superlatives, but these guys were awesome. No fuss, no bother, they kept us going.

On to the documentary guys, Dan (Who is clearly unable to not smile) and Joel ( Dan’s trusted right man) worked tirelessly to capture all they could and really added to the team spirit also. I just hope they didn’t show too much of Neil fat ass whilst running. I assume there will be some clever editing.

Andy Thornley our Press and PR guy worked hard at getting us lots of coverage and even joined us for a few miles.

Then the runners…..

*Dom “just one thing” Williams.

He can be a pain in the ass, but he has good intentions. He wanted us to start and finish as a team. We achieved that goal each day so a job well done. He deserves the upmost respect for all his hard work and also I want to thank him personally for the most incredible experience.

*Chris “The Irishman” Dale.

Chris, unfortunately, suffered terribly with a chest infection and was not able to continue. Chris, a man of pride, refused to ran the last mile with us. The team thankfully talked him round over the last 24 hours and it was a great lift to see him towards the end.

*Neil “Fat ass, Old Mother Hubbard

Whingy whiny man, doesn’t understand that a number under 10 is a single digit” Mitchell.

I think I was the butt of most people jokes, so I needed an outlet. That outlet was Neil. He reminds of Karl Pilkington, with let’s be fair, an IQ maybe slightly higher. He loves a good moan and is fun to engage in argument. I also enjoyed giving him some jelly babies, fermented in some good old fashioned arse sweat.

*John “Big John” Driscoll

John is a quiet man, until he has a drink. Then he holds court at the top of the table spewing out anecdotes like his life depends on it. I failed to understand it all, but I believe in his jocky days he was known as ‘BIG John Driscoll’…(he must be 5 ft 7)

*Earle “the quiet man” Jackson

Earle is a big name in the camp, can run all day, but he has only little legs so he sets the pace, and it was the right pace for what we were doing. If only Dom had mentioned this just once so we didn’t all run off to fast….tut tut tut

Earle doesn’t speak much, but seems to abandon this characteristic when he feels that I am deserving of some piss taking. It seems I am immune to no man!

*Wesley “Now with a significant gay fan base ” Young.

Wes, changed himself physically from last year culminating in a picture that would not look out of place on the front of ‘Gay UK’ – (I had to use google to find that out…honest). He was in tip top shape and kept himself going through his eclectic choice of music, Sugababes, Girls Aloud and ‘Now that’s what I call Christmas’.

So, that is the round up done…

I now sit at my laptop, both feet too swollen to put shoes on, knees that most probably need replacing all together and thigh & calf muscles that seem to be putting to fingers up at their establishment (i.e. me)

What an incredible few days. How do you concisely sum this up in 1,000 words or so. I don’t think a blog can do it justice but I will attempt it all the same.

April 4th to the 7th 2013 was emotionally and physically draining, it was a life changing experience, one that is only trumped by the birth of my daughter.

It was an experience that had you traversing through deep snow, cuddling a Spice Girl, being applauded by 45,000 people, had you crying and laughing, that enabled you to meet lovely children who have been dealt a bad hand in life….to enable you to the help those children through the legacy of 96 football fans.

It is UNIQUE, there is no other word for it. It will be never be repeated for me I don’t think. How can you top that?

When you see a 2 month old little girl weighing 5 lbs (if that) with heart and breathing difficulties and born with Down’s Syndrome, her little chest going in and out very fast…it is tough, you cannot fail to be moved by it. When you see a 15 year old girl who had been hit by a van on the 21st December, broke almost every bone in her body and had to celebrate Christmas in March, it’s impossible for me to turn and walk away from that. When you meet a 5 year old boy, who is in for his fourth round of chemotherapy and you see he is ill and suffering and struggling to smile despite my best attempts, you cannot leave unaffected.

This is why it has changed my life, I will do more for these children in the future.

This is why creating a legacy of the 96 is so important and Dom should be commended for this idea.

I could talk about how hard the challenge was, but does it really matter? Not really. It was hard, Day 1 took my to my very limit. It doesn’t matter though. We are the lucky ones.

When we finished a woman in the crowd that greeted us embraced me. I cannot remember her name. I assumed she was a parent of one of the runners as she said, “I am so proud of you”…

”No problem”, I replied.

She then said to me, “you have done so well, and I want to thank you, my Dad died at Hillsborough, it is incredible what you have done”
That tipped me over the edge… I sat and had a cry on my own. I think Tonya from Sheffield Children’s Charity came over and gave me a hug, I think maybe a few of the team did too. I don’t really know. The emotion poured out, it wasn’t happiness – it wasn’t sadness either. It was neither. I still cannot explain it….

So now I am coming down fast…to the normality of life. Life with a new purpose, a new strategy…

I raise my glass to the 96, and the children at Alder Hey and Sheffield Children’s

Thanks for the memories.

Scott.

The post “Coming down fast” – Helter Skelter, The Beatles appeared first on Hillsborough-Anfield Run.

The team was warmly met by the hospital charity who had identified the kids we would be meeting today, a mixture from across the hospital. The first visit was to a cancer ward. These children and young adults were at various stages of treatment, with some on their 5th round of chemotherapy.

Most of us know someone who has been through this life saving, but difficult treatment. The brave and defiant way they face this is nothing short of inspirational. The level of care, attention and support they were receiving from the hospital was exemplary, supporting the ongoing care of this level of care is what we need to raise the money for.

Following the hospital visit, with everyone more motivated than ever, we headed to dinner provided by The Quakers facility in Sheffield. Carb loading at its finest, again our thanks to them for putting on a delicious spread of all kinds of pasta.

The runners are ready. The support team are ready.

The post Preparation day and visit to The Children’s Hospital Sheffield appeared first on Hillsborough-Anfield Run.

However I’ve had a worrying couple of weeks due to an unexpected injury that for a few days had me seriously wondering if I’d be switching from the “run team” to “support team”. Having moved last summer over to Didsbury, I’ve been able to get out on a few runs along parts of the Trans Pennine Trail that we’ll be covering on Day 2 of the run. About 2 weeks ago I’d cleared out a Saturday to get a good 20 miles in. The intention was to run out 10 miles out then pretty much have no choice but to turn round and come back the same way!

On the Friday I’d been really busy with work and having got home fell asleep on the couch pretty much straight away. I snoozed until about 10.30 and when I woke up didn’t have the will to start making something to eat so just went to bed. I’d been suffering with a tight achilles heel since my last gym session on the Thursday morning but expected it just needed a nights rest and would be fine when I woke up. When I woke Saturday morning the achilles was still sore but I was expecting it to loosen up after I got a few miles and a stretch under my belt.

I got myself out and clocked up a few miles conscious of tightness in the leg but still running without any apparent issues. I stopped for a couple of minutes twice in the first 5 miles and stretched out the calf muscle and hamstrings, but couldn’t seem to shake off the nagging pain just above my heel. After about 7 miles the pain was passing up into the calf but I was so determined to hit 20 miles I thought I’d just carry on, as I crossed over the bridge that spans the M60 my memory went back to last year and the calamity that went with getting lost around that section.

Not long after that though the pain in the calf had spread to the knee and I was obviously altering my running stride to relieve the pain in the achilles, only to pass the injury right down the lower leg. By 8 miles it was excruciating and I was slowing down to a jog. I reached Ashton-on-Mersey Rugby Club at 8.3 miles in, where last year we were found worse for wear by the support team, 8.3 miles and had to stop. 10 minutes of stretching and trying to work out what to do for the best. Starting back up I could hardly jog a few hundred metres without needing to stop. The pain was sever right down from my knee into the base of my heel. Unfortunately there was very little I could do but walk a bit, jog a bit, pretty much the same route back. I managed a shortcut off the trail to cut a corner but by the time I’d finished I was hobbling in having covered almost 15 miles dead.

I felt dead. I was so annoyed at myself because I’m usually pretty good at listening to my body. If the body doesn’t feel up to it, then don’t run. This time I didn’t, and to make matters worse my preparation was shocking. Extremely dehydrated and having had no tea the night before, and a very basic breakfast of fruit and nuts, I hadn’t given my body any chance to defend itself and I was now paying for it. Big mistake.

Gutted and fearing the worst I text Dom. He suggested I speak to our team physio Mel who gave me some good advice and with my planned shorter run Sunday now out of the question I went out to buy some heel inserts for my shoes, some compression socks and a roller for working the muscles.

I text Matt who I’ve been training with who told me not to worry, we’d work through it in the gym the next morning. The whole session was spent rolling out my legs, the full IT band that runs down the outside of the leg, calves, hamstrings and quad muscles. In fact the rest of the weeks gym sessions were pretty much the same with some upper body weights thrown in, but complete rest on the legs. Thursday night I got out for a short run and other than the paranoia that something would go pop I managed 4 ½ miles without any issue. In fact the pace was good and I was left feeling like I’d not done long enough but probably best to have just left it short.

With only 2 weeks left, and still being a bit short of miles in my head, I asked Earle if he’d do a long run with me. Earle is very experienced at long distance running, and tends to keep a very steady pace. As he had a wedding to go to he said he’d only be able to get about 18 miles in, however as you’ve read on his last blog the weather put up some obstacles and we managed a very tough “alpine cross country” 15 miles!

Thankfully no pain at all, however I needed to really test the legs out as our run requires much more endurance not just for one day but 3 consecutive days. I was entered in the Wilmslow Half Marathon on the Sunday and woke with stiffness in the back of the leg. Not sharp but enough to keep me worried right down to parking up. I arrived early and found a support tent selling running gear and also a local sports rehab centre offering pre and post-race massages for a nominal donation to a local hospice. I quickly explained to the guy who runs the physiotherapists about my injury and the forthcoming run. He got me sorted with a massage and 5 minutes later the legs were feeling great, and my stress levels greatly reduced. I decided I’d start reasonably steady and aim for a sub 1 hour 40 pace, which would have been far quicker than I’ve ever ran that distance before, but not as quick as I thought my current fitness could achieve. If the legs held out I’d be certain of being good to go on the 4^th April, if not well I’d done everything I could and I’d have to settle for joining our support crew. 1 hour 37 minutes and 12 seconds later I don’t know what I was more happy about, over 6 ½ minutes knocked off my PB or the fact I’d come through with such ease and little discomfort. The 4 months of work in the gym, and the change to my nutrition have made me so much stronger than last year and it was obvious in my running. I’m close to my final assessment at the gym so will blog again about that, but I certain that without the muscle development there is no way my knees would have stood up to this level of training again.

I made sure of another rub down afterwards and was offered some shock therapy treatment specifically for achilles injuries at the physio clinic. I went down to Sport-Med in Stockport (only 200m off the run route!) yesterday morning and was well looked after by Tim Deykin and his team. Tim administered 2000 little shocks with what looked like a nail gun! The science behind it is very impressive and way too complicated for me to explain on here, but I can recommend anyone in Greater Manchester suffering from injury give them a call. Given how I struggled to recover from last years run I’ll certainly be returning for  some TLC should I finish in the same condition! (That’s because I’m local to them, obviously anyone in Merseyside should get over and see Mel, our team physio, at Woolton Physio for great treatment and a right good giggle!)

So other than one last long run on Good Friday, and maybe just a short 10k on Sunday or Monday, I’m feeling good to go. I can’t predict what will happen on the run, none of the team can as 96 miles is an extraordinary distance to try and cover in 3 days. But with the training done, the treatment done, along with the support of the other runners and the rest of the team, I’m now getting very excited about this years event!

Please get behind the run and promote in any possible way you can! And most importantly, DONATE! Whatever you can spare, it really means everything to the whole of the Hillsborough to Anfield Run team!

The post Injury Scare appeared first on Hillsborough-Anfield Run.

23 years is a long time to wait
23 years from opening the gate
fighting for justice for that April day
fighting for justice come what may
fighting for justice for the 96 fans
fighting for justice is the biggest plan
Steve Rotheram and Andy Burnham, Labour MP’s
stood in the commons and voiced our pleas
the Tory government in power at the time
Thatcher tried to pass the blame in 89
“lets blame the fans, say they killed their own”
“leak it to the press, castigate Scousers alone”

The justice flame burns brightly for all to see
as we continue to fight, both you and me
doing our bit however small
fighting for justice, for one and all
It’s not about us and personal gain
It’s about the 96 fans and their families pain

We had the backing of both football clubs
we’ve collected donations from fans in pubs
even people walking towards the ground
wishing us well “nice one lads, thats sound”
throwing in anything they can, for the cause
without hesitation and without a pause
the same lads, week in and week out
hands in pockets, giving us a shout
“well done boys, you’ve done a great job”
“I’m a bit skint this week, heres a few bob”
no matter how much, how big or small
every penny matters for the justice call

We travelled across to Sheffield, bonding as a team
all in this together, all with the same dream
to run from Hillsborough, almost 80 miles
to finish at Anfield, all full of smiles
laying the wreath in front of Leppings Lane
standing together, sharing each others pain
supporting each other through this ordeal
wishing to myself that none of this was real
looking at the tunnel, nothing had been altered
gave us the boost that we couldn’t falter

Times were tough on the first day of the run
running up the pennines sure wasn’t fun
the changing weather had its own part to play
like Crowded House sang “four seasons in one day”
the support team were great and helped us through
all the lads were sound, and the girls too
keeping us fed, hydrated, injury free and warm
everything they did went beyond the norm’
looking after us runners all along the way
from morning till night, throught every day
30 miles ran, from Hillsborough to Hyde
lets hope day 2 would be as good a ride

The second day was harder than the first
getting lost twice and fighting the thirst
tempers were frayed, pushed right to the max
but we worked as a team, no one would crack
words were said and opinions were aired
but soon were forgotten when we finally heard
our adopted signature tune ‘Ring of Fire’
blasting out from the bus “turn it up higher”
we finished in Widnes, 60 miles were now done
surely the last leg would be a bit more fun
only 18 miles to go through the streets of Liverpool
the support would pick up now, this would be cool

An early morning start on day 3 of our quest
injuries and aching muscles would be put to the test
from Widnes through Hale and past the airport
all on the roads now and receiving the support
running through South Liverpool and seeing people we knew
getting closer to Anfield the support grew and grew
Cars, vans and lorries all beeping their horns
made you foget about any blisters and corns
one last push up Utting Ave, towards the ground
turning on to Anfield Road arm in arm, this was sound
a crowd of people stood outside the Shankly Gates
clapping and cheering us along, we could see some mates

We had done it! We were finally home
on the same pitch where our heroes did roam
but for all those players who’d worn the red shirt
none could have given more, been through more hurt
than the runners and support of the Hillsborough to Anfield run
we had reached our goal and finished what we’d begun
all those months ago when Dom came up with the idea
he hadn’t realised how big it would grow, surpassed his fear
family and friends were waiting and rep’s from both groups
the adrenalin kicked in and I could’ve jumped through hoops
no tiredness now, we were running on pure emotion
looking around the whole team, I saw 100% dedication
Dom Drizz Neil, Chris Wes Conor, Adam and Jonny
Amo Mel Kate, Dan Michael Dean and of course me

Celebrations turned to reality like the flick of a switch
when it became time to walk the length of the pitch
to lay the floral tribute in front of the Kop
to pay our respects, to think, to shed a tear, to stop
to remember why we did this, for those that died
the 96 and their families, the pride of Merseyside!
we were back on the pitch the very next week
introduced to the crowd, I felt humble and meek
this wasn’t why I’d done it, I’m sure the rest felt the same
a group of people doing it cos they believed, not for the fame
It was an honour to be received on the pitch by Margaret and Steve
for 23 long years they have fought for what they believe
losing their loved ones at Hillsborough on that April day
I just hope we made them proud, even in a small way!

JUSTICE FOR THE 96
YNWA

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As the date to start running in memory of the 96 and for the great causes of Alder Hey and The Children’s Hospital Sheffield fastly approaches, my training runs will start to ease off , both in mileage and effort, so that I can set off from Hillsborough on the 4th April in the best possible condition that I can.

I have been putting in the mileage in and around Bolton on my training runs, with runs up to 25 miles, back to back 18 miles and last week Friday, Saturday and Sunday long runs of 16, 22 and 13 miles (Liverpool half marathon, I was pacing a girl I work with, Kate, around who wanted to do 2hrs). I’ve even found new terrain to run on, Winter Hill which over looks Bolton, and is a great way of training for the TPT. I first ran on it when the Bolton Hill Marathon was taking place and ended up joining in with them for 10 miles in the ice and thin dusting of snow that had fallen overnight, tricky conditions but nowhere near as bad as Saturday 23rd March when Wes and me went for a run over Winter Hill. Wes thought I was joking when I texted him that morning to say be careful driving over because of the snow. “No snow here” was the reply, well there was in Bolton and plenty of it! We were aiming for an 17/18 miler in preparation for Wes’ attempt at a PB in Wilmslow the following day.

We set off to a reminder off Joanne of “don’t be late, we’ve got a wedding to go to!” “I’ll have him home before 12″ Wes told her. The first 6 miles weren’t too bad, some off road through Moss Bank Park and Smithills Hall, but mostly on the road to try and avoid the thick snow that had fallen all day Friday and even more overnight. As we approached the climb towards Winter Hill, I thought to myself ‘these conditions are a lot worse than the other week’ but we carried on regardless. You normally see at least 2 or 3 other runners out on the Hill and some mountain bikers, but we were the only 2 idiots to venture up there that day!

Running back down, all our footprints had now been covered up by fresh snow, good job Wes pulled me out or the Bolton Mountain Rescue might not have been able to find us.

Once back down on the road, I planned a new route because of our failure to get up to the mast. We were soon caught up in more snow, this time along with cars stuck in it who couldn’t get any further, not even with the help of us pushing them or a tractor trying to clear the road! It was chaos, the tractor was pushing the snow to the side of the road and it was at least 6 or 7 feet in places. We were lucky that we could carry on, but all the cars had to turn around and go back. We were now running along Chorley New Road, back towards Bolton, being splashed by every car that went past us, we were soaked anyway after being up on Winter Hill so it didn’t matter. We cut short the run and ended up doing just short of 15 miles, which wasn’t to bad considering the terrain and the weather conditions! Wes’ Achilles had stood up to the test and he even did a PB at Wilmslow the next day, well done mate! Joanne was very sympathetic when we told her of our ‘near mishap’ on the hill, “I’d have gone on my own then” she told us! No mention of thanks for getting back before 12!

The weather hasn’t been that good to us this year while we’ve been continuing our training. I’m sure the other lads have suffered the same conditions as me, lots of rain, wind and snow, sometimes all in the same run! But because of the cause, we’ve laced our trainees up, wore the right clothing for the conditions and headed out of our door knowing that by doing such a small thing like this, we will be helping so many children in the hospitals and also keeping the public awareness of the fight for JUSTICE FOR THE 96 in what we hope to be the year that the families finally get the JUSTICE that they have fought so hard for over the past 24 years!

The post Almost time! (I thought my time was up) appeared first on Hillsborough-Anfield Run.

The first Hillsborough to Anfield Run was a huge success in raising funds for the groups, but most importantly keeping the public awareness going about Hillsborough. We managed to change a few peoples perspectives about what happened on the 15th April 1989, which was proved to the world on the 12th September when the papers were released to the families and the public. I was honoured to have been a small part of what the campaigns had been fighting for for over 23 years. If I’m honest, I had contrasting thoughts about this years run, would we be doing it for the campaigns again? Would people still back us or think because the papers had been released, they didn’t need too? Once Dom told me it was for Alder Hey and the Childrens Hospital Sheffield, my instant reaction was why? The campaigns still needed funds for the forthcoming legal cases to overturn the original coroners verdicts, I wanted to continue to back the fight! It was only when I spoke to Steve Kelly at the HJC shop early this season that I understood the need to raise funds for the hospitals in the memory of the 96! Even when I spoke to Steve in St Georges Hall after the papers were released in September, he was adamant that any legal costs for the new trials/verdicts should come out of central government and that the public shouldn’t have to ‘put their hands in their pockets anymore’ to fund the costs. “People have raised money for years, its time for the government to fund it now!” he told me.

Doms idea to raise money for both Alder Hey and The Childrens Hospital Sheffield is a great idea as both cities were affected by Hillsborough in their own way. Also, raising money for childrens hospitals appeal to everyone as we all know someone or have been that someone whose child has been in hospital at some point. It hit home even harder to me only a couple of weeks ago when my son, Ewan, was rushed to hospital in Bolton after suffering from a seizure while he was in bed one night. It was the first time he’d had one, so came as a shock to us, and made me think even harder about ‘why we are doing this’ this year. Ewan has been fine since, touch wood, and has been back at the match with me, giving out leaflets advertising the run at the recent Swansea game, just like he did last year. In my job at a special needs school in Bolton, one of our students has recently been admitted to Alder Hey for a heart operation proving that these specialist hospitals are not just for the children who live in or near the cities, but for everyone who needs them, when they need them.

The fight for JUSTICE carries on, and will do until each one of the 96 souls rests in peace and their families can finally grieve in peace after all this time. We will continue to lend our support, however we can until the ‘Justice Bell’ finally tolls!

This years slogan ‘In memory of the 96 for a brighter future’ sums it all up perfectly!

Earle

JFT96! YNWA!

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I think my first phone call was to Wes, I was due to be meeting him and some people who might have helped us publicise the run, looking back I should have rung him sooner but I was determined to travel. Wes was brilliant, very calm and I think he understood, it was very hard ringing the team and telling them I won’t be making it but carry on regardless. Andy had organised for some press to be there and Helen Hughes from Alder Hey was also going to be there to meet the team, Steve Kelly(HJC) Sue Roberts and Claire Mcglone (HFSG), Steve Rotheram MP all attending this meeting that I had organised and I didn’t turn up, bloody nightmare!

I didn’t sleep much that night and was up early making sure people were either travelling, running or organising. I messaged Scott and John Driscoll, Scott was en route and John was left in the very same predicament I had found myself the day before, heavy snow had fallen and driving was out of the question. It was just a question of making sure that we made the best of it. David Price, British and Commonwealth Heavyweight Champion and Darren Farley an impressionist had both promised to attend but Pricey’s lad had fallen ill and Farley was doing his invisible man impression. David Price was brilliant and got a statement to me straight away for the news crews and I remain hopeful that Darren Farley will get right behind us. I was in constant touch with Andy, Dean, Earle and they were all brilliant getting everything sorted to make the launch a success.

The day seemed to go pretty much to plan and judging by the coverage on Monday it was a huge success. Things could have worked better for us like the weather, everyone turning up, Scott choosing a better colour to run in (team joke!)and Ben being able to do the reccies he wanted. All things consider it went well enough and that is due to the huge sense of responsibility we feel as a team to do the 96 and their families proud as well as raise a phenomenal amount of money for both Alder Hey & The Children’s Hospital, Sheffield, Monday was a day of both immense Pride and Relief!

YNRA

- Dom

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Or alternatively, I am travelling to Liverpool for a mid day kick off with our friends down the M62.

It is snowing, however, it’s off to Liverpool I go, but no dubious red card or penalty decision this time. It’s off to Alder Hey to meet the Alder Hey Charity, the Hillsborough family groups, the rest of the running team and a small innocuous plastic dolphin…

It’s cold, I have had 3 hours sleep due to an 18 month old little girl, the rest of the guys are running from their respective hotels to Alder Hey Hospital. I have a 4 hour drive with a thermos of strong coffee for company.

I embark on the journey and hope the weather is kind. The weather or illness has already claimed a number of victims. David Price, the heavyweight boxer, has an ill child, Darren Farley, the Liverpudlian impressionist was absent presumed missing, Margaret Aspinall of the Hillsborough Family Support Group (HFSG) was also ill, our team leader Dom Williams was snowed-in in Somerset as was one of the other runners – John Drizz, our documentary maker and cameraman also fell foul of the weather. I didn’t realise the luck of the Cunliffe was contagious.

Upon writing this blog Dom had asked me to be ‘kind to him’ regarding his absence, it’s a group of lads and there’s banter, but banter aside Dom was devastated that he couldn’t make it, everyone respected that and was sorry to hear his news. He works tirelessly to make this a success and I felt for him.

I muttered that I was a runner, and he asked me how my training was going – I said I’d lost coming on for 2 stone, he probably thought, ‘how bloody fat was he to begin with…’ …and then we walked into the room.

This was a strange experience, I knew most people in the room but had never met them before, there was an ensemble of press and media, I introduced myself to Steve Kelly of the Hillsborough Justice Campaign, a lovely warm man who really buys into our vision for this 2nd run, he said ‘I thought you were a politician’ as I was dressed smartly, I am not sure if that was a compliment or not so I laughed it off.

I met all the team, none of which I had met before but had conversed with via Facebook, Twitter, email and phone. It did feel a bit ‘first day at School’ having not done it last year. My initial thoughts were, christ Wes is tall, Earle… the opposite, I noticed a distinct lack of hair among the group, I noticed I was dressed like a prat by comparison, Mel (our Physiotherapist) was as warm and friendly as I had imagined, she had her daughter with her, Emily who is studying physiotherapy at University, who will also be supporting us on the run who was quiet, nice and rather attractive I might add. Dean and Mik were wonderfully nice chaps, also wonderfully absent of hair. Jordon who is Wes’ brother and a support team member was there as was Ben Williams, our new improved navigator.

I was then introduced to the Dolphin by Mel. I was first made aware of the dolphin through the Facebook group when I first joined back in August, it is still a bit of a mystery to me. It’s small, plastic and dolphin shaped. I assumed it was a tool to aid the muscles or something, though nobody could give me a definitive answer. Wes was particularly attached to this dolphin, they obviously had a long history, who am I to pry?…move on, nothing to see here…

We then chatted about the run and our training whilst Andy worked tirelessly on getting everything set up. He is kind of like Xabi Alonso, quiet, unassuming, gets the job done.

Earle being a runner, was summoned for an interview, he is the right person to talk to the press, he was at Hillsborough on that awful day, he is of a quiet disposition, one of those guys who talks when he needs to and people listen when he does.

When it was clear David Price wasn’t able to make it we made our way outside for some photographs.

We lined up behind our banner for some photos with Steve Rotherham & the family members, it felt exciting, like we had made it to the start-line. The photographers made us line up and run towards them. The group from last year with their snazzy orange jackets kept hogging all the space, so on the 4th attempt I bolted…literally..

“Bloody hell its Usain Cunliffe” – somebody shouted.

That picture surprisingly made it on to the BBC News website. The Daily Mirror, The Anfield Wrap, SWFC website, LFC website and Liverpool Echo have also covered it as I write this.

We then all left to go to a social club, have a chat and something to eat.

I stupidly, left my iPad in the charity room so I ran back to get it only to find it was locked and nobody had the combination apart from Helen Hughes of the Alder Hey Charity who had left. As I struggled to get her number and get my iPad, I was left in the corridor for about 45 minutes…this may seem like an annoyance but I am glad that it happened.

This is about the legacy of the 96, a brighter future.

As Steve Kelly eloquently put it “I can’t think of a better legacy than one that will help children who are ill. As someone who lost a brother at Hillsborough, I feel something so good is at last coming out of something so bad.”

That is enough for me. I didn’t need any more motivation but if I did, wow, that moment in the corridor was it.

We had a conference call back at the social club with Dom on Skype, we huddled round and shared our thoughts and ideas, had a few laughs, the highlight being Neil’s use of ‘Regaine’ – he’s trying to buck the trend clearly. We then followed our call by scoffing a few sarnies and made our way home.

As I left I chatted to Steve Kelly who was just getting into his car. I wanted to say a few words that I felt embarrassed saying in front of the others for some reason. I said that I was honoured to meet him and be a part of this and that although I am not from Liverpool, the Hillsborough disaster had appalled me for so long. Steve said the honour was his and I could have hugged him right there and then but I didn’t think that would be right and proper. So I shook his hand, Dean took a photo of us and we went home.

It was a really successful day, donations have started to come in and if the snow ever melts we can get on with our intensive training.

Looking forward to the 4th April. Let’s get to it.

JFT96

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Highlights of the coverage so far:

• Sheffield Wednesday
• Liverpool FC
• St Helens Reporter
• Radio interviews on Radio City
• Liverpool Echo including a video interview
• BBC Merseyside News
• The Anfield Wrap podcast
• Empire of the Kop

You can also see pictures from the press launch day over on our Facebook page.  Our thanks to everyone who attended including Steve Rotheram MP,  Steve Kelly and to everyone who has read one of the articles and started to donate.

Dean, Ben, Mik, Jordan, Wes, Earle, Steve Kelly, Steve Rotheram MP, Scott, Claire Mcglone, Neil, Sue Roberts, Chris Tarbuck, Mel and Emily

Neil, Scott, Claire, Steve Rotheram MP, Steve Kelly, Earle, Wes

Neil, Scott, Claire, Wes, Earle, Steve Kelly

Neil, Wes, Scott and Earle run out ahead

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