Walk to Wembley raises more than £2.5k

Graeme Brookes is walking 138 miles from Walsall to London to cheer on his team in memory of his grandfather who never missed a match, home or away.

The 31-year old from Worcester set off at half time during the Saddlers game against MK Dons on March 14.

The children's services worker is taking on the challenge to honour lifelong fan Ronald Brookes who followed the team religiously for 83 years – despite being deaf and blind.

He has been keeping an online blog of his travel and was passing Milton Keynes on Wednesday. An online donation page shows he has raised £2,558 so far.

The charity walk will raise money for the Walsall Society for the Blind.

Mr Brookes is walking for eight days along the Grand Union Canal before arriving at 1pm to watch The Saddlers take on Bristol City in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy final on Sunday.

He is also being joined part of the way by family and supporters and has been offered free accommodation each night along the route.

He said: "I know the adrenalin when I leave will keep me going for a while and when I see the M25 that will push me on."

The fan hopes to reach his £5,000 fundraising target by the big day.

He said: "It is so sad that my granddad won't be able to experience this. He died aged 91 and he is my inspiration, I need to be there for him, so when the cramps and blisters set in I will think of him and that will keep me going."

He added:"My grandfather was there when we beat Reading in 2001 but Wembley was being refurbished so it was held at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium. He said he wished it was at Wembley and wanted to walk down Wembley Way so I decided to walk the whole way in his memory."

Walsall FC are officially involved and Mr Brookes is filming a documentary about the walk, which will include interviews at the club and will be sold to add to his fundraising total.

Mr Brookes is writing a blog about the challenge, to view it go to www.walsalltowembley.com