Clarets fan's coast to coast challenge walk raises thousands for Pendleside Hospice
Burnley fan and this year’s ‘Strictly Does Pendleside’ contestant Matt Simm has completed his challenge to walk the entire width of the North of England.
And Matt and his walking partner and brother in law Nick Holroyd, who is a Blackburn Rovers supporter, put their rivalry aside to raise the grand total of £9,684.
The five day coast to coast challenge went from Scarborough to Morecambe, a leisurely 132 mile hike with the route taking in Malton, York, Wetherby and Skipton before ending up back in Morecambe. And each day the duo dedicated the miles completed to someone’s memory including Matt’s dad Paul (Zac) Simm and Nick’s dad Michael Holroyd. The others remembered were Elsie and Ronald Craig, Alan Williams Jack and Joan Simm, Bob Harris, Peter Arnold, Moira Steer,Ann Lord, Jayne Nutter Glenn Headrick and Samantha Duff.
Matt (36) entered Pendleside Does Strictly competition as part of his mission is to raise as much money as possible for the hospice as a tribute to his dad who died of pancreatic cancer in 2019 at the age of 56.
Matt said: “I’ve never felt pain like it at the end of the walk, but it was nothing in comparison to the pain I felt when my dad died.”
Matt’s wife Melissa and daughter Isla (four) and Nick’s wife Charlotte and little girls Olivia (eight) and five-year-old Lottie were there to greet them at the finish line and give them a hero’s welcome.
The fund raising continues with a charity golf day at Nelson Golf Club on August 31st. Anyone who would like to make a donation to Matt’s challenge is asked to click HERE.