Walsall to Wembley - The walk, day one
I don't know where to start. What a mental day.
I have spent the last few days rushing around! It's been absolutely crazy!
On Friday I collected my £20 store donation from Morrison's (Thanks!) in Walsall, prepared everything for the walk, and filmed some more interviews for the documentary.
Lots of people appear to have heard me on Free Radio which is cool! I think I was on the news too, though I'm not sure.
Then I rushed straight to the Saddlers Club and did the whole bucket collection routine. I don't know how much that raised yet, but I do know that the bucket was very heavy so I hope a lot. People were so generous!
This whole walk has amazed me. The MK Dons fans were brilliant and generous, our fans were brilliant – everyone was. Even the fella that sells the nice old fashioned badges on the pin boards! He gave me a fiver and then a free badge.
After this it was onto filming for the BBC. That was cool (though just watched it back and I think my weird saunter across the pitch looked random and apologies for the cocky demeanour – "I'll blitz this", what is that about?!).
Then I got to meet Dean Smith and he knew my name (One Direction moment – Aaaaaaaargh, he knows me, we are BFFs now! Aaaaaaaaaargh) and we had a good chat!
Then off I went to get ready in a side room and I couldn't hear any of the first half, gutted! Then . . . onto the pitch. I was more anxious for that than anything. Walking out on the pitch to the amazing applause was so goosebumpy – everyone clapped and cheered, it was amazing. Being stood in the centre of the pitch, in the middle of a ground that I have been regularly going to for so long was surreal. I apologise for doing the footballer being subbed clap to the fans as I left, I couldn't help myself. It felt real and very natural, I think me and my BFF need to talk about my availability for post-Wembley. If he thinks I am only signed to a standard one year contract, he can think again!
Anyway – then I was off again! I had a small group of friends, family and staff from Walsall Society for the Blind (what a bunch of stars!) waiting for me outside. It was a comedy moment as I walked off, as I'd agreed with the BBC to keep on walking as they filmed and followed me, but the group waiting for me thought I was coming back... I wasn't. I then kept walking and couldn't see anyone. I kept walking – still no-one. I kept walking and saw them catching me up, but it took a while! Waffle, my dog, then joined me for a bit which was the best. However when I walked off and left him – he just sat there and stared at me. I suppose I forgot that part of the walk – leaving Waffle - it was very sad!
Anyway – onto the canal and it was golden if not a little muddy. I was joined by my good friend, Bob Gee, for the entire walk today (it was only 9 miles but still!). I was also joined for about three miles by another inspiration, and an amazing friend of mine, Debbie Cooper and her little boy – who she pushed in a pram along the muddy towpaths of Wednesbury and Perry Barr. What a star she is!
Approaching the end of the walk I was approached by a runner called Jon, who asked for some water. When Bob Gee shamelessly plugged the walk, Jon said he'd heard me on the radio and wanted a photo! I felt like a celebrity! He has since tweeted it AND made a donation! What a legend!
This was the most interesting thing to report until . . . A ROCK CAME FLYING PAST ME AND BOB just as we were walking through a dark tunnel underneath Spaghetti Junction! What was the point in that?! Wowzer! Yet more reason to donate – my life is at risk! During my training – I often saw people feeding the ducks, if people threw bread at me like they do for the ducks, I'd quite appreciate that (preferably buttered with some strong cheddar and red onion – I would prefer the bread to be Tiger bread too. Just saying).
I would really really like to say thank you to everyone today. It was a lovely, special and amazing day in so many ways but I am so glad that throughout the 'attraction' and 'bravado' of the day – the main focal points have been – Walsall Society for the Blind, donations, and my granddad: Ronaldo. Thank you everybody.
Distance – 8.9 miles. Time: 2 hours, 57 minutes. Mph: 3.02
