At the time of year when many are making New Year resolutions and promises, Silsden supporter Rob Grillo has announced plans to undertake a sponsored run with a difference next summer.
Commencing on Tuesday 27th July 2010, Rob will undertake a marathon trek in aid of Silsden AFC's 'Football''s Coming Home' appeal, and will cover the 268 mile Pennine Way, from Edale (Derbyshire) to Kirk Yetholm in Scotland. The intention is to crack it in 10 days – thereby completing on average over a marathon each day.
Rob has issued the following statement explaining how it all came about.
In recent years I''ve climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, trekked to Everest Base Camp in the Himalayas and tackled high mountain passes in the Alps, raising money for various charities around the world, but this year I wanted to do something a little closer to home. Therefore I thought it only fair that I raised money for an important local sporting cause this time. As I''ve written extensively in the past about local sport, then it seems apt to go local.
Silsden AFC''s senior team is desperate to return home to its Keighley Road ground in the village. They are the first Keighley side ever to play in the football pyramid, and to enter the FA Cup. This is due partly to the generosity of Keighley Cougars RLFC who have allowed them to play at Cougar Park for the past six seasons.
It has now come to the stage, however, in the current economic climate, that unless Silsden return 'home' they will be unable to compete at their current level. The club already runs dozens of junior teams from under 8's through to under 17's which compete in local leagues. These are all based at the Keighley Road playing fields in Silsden.
I''ll therefore be tackling the Pennine Way in order to help raise money for the club to install, floodlights, hard standing, perimeter fencing at Keighley Road. This resource will not only benefit the club, but will be a valuable asset for Keighley''s sporting public. £40,000 is the money needed to help the club realise their ambition -– hopefully some of it will come from this sponsored event!
I''ll be running the first two days (and sleeping at home for the first two nights!), but from day 3 will be armed with a lightweight tent and stove, and intend to take it a little more sedately. Many friends & colleagues - including local sportsmen and women, several local musicians and the leader of Bradford Council - have already pledged their support and will be joining me for small sections.
Sponsorship would be most welcome from anybody !!
Further details can be found on the 'Rob Grillo on the Pennine Way' facebook page, or at my website www.robgrillo.co.uk
