Former Keswick mayor Alan Dunn has stepped out on a gruelling walking challenge to visit 20 rugby union clubs throughout Cumbria.
The 70-year-old is doing the marathon 265-mile hike to raise money for Keswick RUFC’s Big Build project which requires a final push to get the £2.12m needed for a new elevated and flood protected clubhouse over the line.
Alan set off on his odyssey from Kirkby Lonsdale Rugby Club on Tuesday and trekked the 13 miles to Kendal RUFC’s ground where he was greeted by club officials. He was accompanied by his wife, Heather, who will be chauffeuring him around and Andy Hampshire, a former manager of Lloyds Bank in Keswick, and his wife, Christine.
From Kendal he headed to Tebay on Wednesday –not a rugby town – and today will head to Kirkby Stephen where the Upper Eden club is based. The walk then takes him to Penrith, Carlisle, and on to Silloth before visiting clubs in the west of the county – Cockermouth, Workington, Egremont, Millom – and heading to Barrow (Furness RFC) from where he will head back through the Lakes to Ambleside. He will finish the walk at Keswick RUFC’s Davidson Park ground.
“We racked our brains to come up with a walking related challenge and I suggested the newly opened 185-mile Cumbria Coastal path walk but I was overruled by Heather who said it wasn’t very “rugbyish” and said I should visit all the Cumbrian rugby union clubs on foot,” said Alan.
“Whilst I am not a rugby player, or an ex-rugby player, I have been a supporter of the club for many years,” said Alan. “Heather has been the first aider for the men’s senior teams for the last 22 years.
“Our sons, Mark, Ian and John have all played for the first team with John captaining the side for four years. Now daughter Katie has been coaching the girls, including our grand-daughter Claudia, for the past five years. Claudia, now 15, plays for the under 16 Falcons who have just won the County Cup, having been unbeaten all season.”
The walk has been split into 10 stages and Alan will meet a representative from each club for a photo and to present them with a small gift.
“Anything I can raise will be matched by a very generous Keswick old boy, up to a maximum of £100,000 and will also attract gift aid at 25 per cent so every £1,000 would turn into £2,250,” said Alan.
The Reminder caught up with Alan after his first walk and he described himself as being “pretty tired”.
“I am not doing it like the 3 Dads Walking every day,” said Alan. “We are going to keep a close eye on the weather and if it’s going to be a decent day we will do a walk. They are all planned out. We are going to do them as quickly as possible.”
Alan, who has completed all the Wainwrights, is no stranger to long distance walking and in his mayoral year completed a 24-hour challenge which saw him complete dozens of one-kilometre laps around Fitz Park to raise money for the trust which runs the attraction.
A spokesperson from Keswick Rugby Club said: “Everyone at the rugby club can’t thank Alan enough for taking on this individual challenge in aid of our new clubhouse,”
Visit: https://gofund.me/8f3ed4bc to donate to Alan’s cause.
