Wolves fans take part in friendly Hawthorns invasion to raise vital funds
A close group of Wolves fans have walked to football stadiums in the West Midlands to help raise vital funds for a two-year-old girl.
Pete Rogers, from Coven, took on the mammoth effort alongside his friends to help pay for treatment his daughter Clara needs over in America.
It saw the group – Team Clara – stop off at Molineux, Banks's Stadium, The Hawthorns, Villa Park and St Andrews during their seven-and-a-half hour challenge.
They took on the walk to raise funds for Clara, who suffered Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy when she was born which led to a lack of oxygen and blood going to her brain.
It meant Clara couldn't breathe on her own due to her organs failing – with the girl also suffering a severe brain injury due to the condition.
She needs CME therapy – a dynamic technique used in physical and occupational therapy – which will help improve her motor skills, speech and feeding.
It has led to the Wolves fans taking on the ambitious challenge to send the girl to the Neurological and Physical Abilitation (NAPA) Centre in America for treatment.
Mark Hands, a member of the Wolves group, said it was an achievement they were all "extremely proud" of – and that it had been an emotional journey.
The 49-year-old, from Cannock, said: "Two years ago Clara was born and her dad, Pete Rogers, is part of our Wolves group. We've been all over Europe together.
Achievement
"We wanted to do this before the Covid lockdown and clearly she's desperate for this treatment in America and we've managed to break the £2,000 landmark today.
"We got round and all managed to complete it, which was good because we've got a wide range of fitness levels in the group. It was pretty good.
"It's no mean feat in wet conditions. It wasn't too bad for the first three hours but it took a turn for the worst after that. It's quite an achievement and it's for a little girl.
"We're all extremely proud of doing it and it's been quite emotional day with Pete as well. But it shows the support within our little group really.
"We've all gone home feeling we've achieved something, but we're nursing our blisters and probably be aching tomorrow."
The group is made up of Ste Cooper, Justin Winwood, Mark Hands, Martin Hughes, Scott Hales, Vinny Preece, Dave Starkey, Jonathan Nevill, Michael Watkins, Scott Herbert and Pete Rogers.
To donate, visit https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/mark-hands10
