A Walk For Estelle : Fri May 18, 2012 9:46 am  

5 Friends , all fervent Keighley Cougars Rugby League Fans (all probably know to most users of this forum )will don their rucksacks and walking boots and take to the towpath on 127 mile marathon walk along the Leeds - Liverpool Canal this July. Al Dickinson , Rick Graham , Michael Scott Jr, Andy Aspinall and Mike Govier will be raising funds to aid research into Rett Syndrome , a condition affecting Estelle ,Al’s youngest daughter. They will be hoping to banish the blisters , cope with the cramp and make it through to a final cold beer in Leeds after four terrific days of effort ! Not regular long distance walkers before , the lads are in serious training in the weeks leading up the walk , , and are committed to completing the full distance and raising vital funds that will fund important research into Rett Syndrome , potentially changing the futures of thousands of young girls across the world. The lads are aiming to raise at least £5000 and are over half way in meeting that target . Any support that Cougar Fans can give them would be very much appreciated . You can sponsor them online http://www.awalkforestelle.co.uk ,or at the Halifax Game they will be brandishing the dreaded collection buckets. Also there is a launch evening being planned for early July in the Hall of Fame Bar with live entertainment and an auction .If any individuals or businesses would like to contribute items for auction please contact al.dickinson@awalkforestelle.co.uk or talk to Wendy or Rach at the Club. The Cougars are backing the Walk , with Gary Fawcett volunteering his time and the Club Mini Bus to make transport the lads down to Liverpool for a 6am start to the trek. Please donate, pennies make pounds and pounds will help find a cure ! Jim can you make this a sticky please ?

5 Friends , all fervent Keighley Cougars Rugby League Fans (all probably know to most users of this forum )will don their rucksacks and walking boots and take to the towpath on 127 mile marathon walk along the Leeds - Liverpool Canal this July. Al Dickinson , Rick Graham , Michael Scott Jr, Andy Aspinall and Mike Govier will be raising funds to aid research into Rett Syndrome , a condition affecting Estelle ,Al’s youngest daughter. They will be hoping to banish the blisters , cope with the cramp and make it through to a final cold beer in Leeds after four terrific days of effort ! Not regular long distance walkers before , the lads are in serious training in the weeks leading up the walk , , and are committed to completing the full distance and raising vital funds that will fund important research into Rett Syndrome , potentially changing the futures of thousands of young girls across the world. The lads are aiming to raise at least £5000 and are over half way in meeting that target . Any support that Cougar Fans can give them would be very much appreciated . You can sponsor them online http://www.awalkforestelle.co.uk ,or at the Halifax Game they will be brandishing the dreaded collection buckets. Also there is a launch evening being planned for early July in the Hall of Fame Bar with live entertainment and an auction .If any individuals or businesses would like to contribute items for auction please contact al.dickinson@awalkforestelle.co.uk or talk to Wendy or Rach at the Club. The Cougars are backing the Walk , with Gary Fawcett volunteering his time and the Club Mini Bus to make transport the lads down to Liverpool for a 6am start to the trek. Please donate, pennies make pounds and pounds will help find a cure ! Jim can you make this a sticky please ?

Re: A Walk For Estelle : Fri May 18, 2012 3:50 pm  

I know how hard the lads are working to achieve this. As someone who does a fair bit of walking i know how hard this is going to be.

My better half cares for Estelle at work. She has always said she is a special and beautiful girl.

If anyone has a spare few quid then please donate.

Re: A Walk For Estelle : Fri May 18, 2012 9:56 pm  

Thanks for putting this on here Rachel and making this a sticky GW. I am the 5th and final member to join the more sore footed than sure footed band of walkers. I will be taking my camera and putting videos on my youtube channel both during the event and also the training. I am not a fan of being in front of the camera but as this is such a good cause and deserving of every penny I turned the camera on myself and attempted to mumble my reasons for getting involved and to talk about the walk. http://youtu.be/JQGOeyyKgEk Thank you for watching and a huge thank you for every penny donated so far. Please also visit www.awalkforestelle.co.uk Thanks Micky1920

Thanks for putting this on here Rachel and making this a sticky GW. I am the 5th and final member to join the more sore footed than sure footed band of walkers. I will be taking my camera and putting videos on my youtube channel both during the event and also the training. I am not a fan of being in front of the camera but as this is such a good cause and deserving of every penny I turned the camera on myself and attempted to mumble my reasons for getting involved and to talk about the walk. http://youtu.be/JQGOeyyKgEk Thank you for watching and a huge thank you for every penny donated so far. Please also visit www.awalkforestelle.co.uk Thanks Micky1920

Re: A Walk For Estelle : Sat May 19, 2012 8:53 am  

As I'm sure a lot of you know by now I'm involved with this. Unfortunately due to a serious knee injury I received around 12 years ago that required surgery I've been advised by doctors not to take part in the walk, which I know is contrary to some erroneous reports that were put out in the media. It's not for want of trying, I took part in the first training walk with the guys and they set a ferocious pace, I stayed with them to the end but after a well earned pint of cider in the Marquis of Granby, I discovered my knee had swollen really badly and struggled to walk for the next couple of days. Anyway instead of walking the trip, I've decided that I'll be supporting the guys on my bike, carrying essential items to lighten their load and also topping up their supplies of food and water etc. This doesn't mean I'm taking the task at hand any less seriously than anyone else though, I'm in training 3 times a week and those that know who I am, top right on the photo above, will know that I'm of shall we say a more robust stature. In the few weeks training so far I've lost 7.5kg and intend to lose a lot more before we go. Anyway, less about me. This cause has spiralled from a few mates wanting to walk the canal to raise a few quid and have a laugh whilst we at it in to something rather larger. The efforts of ourselves including some fantastic support work from the likes of Rach, and Wendy Holder has seen us raise I believe around £3,000 so far and things are in place that will help us raise much more. The Launch Night should be well worth coming down to, we've an auction taking place with some cracking items that have been kindly donated including a signed match worn shirt from Lee Briers, who is an ambassador for the Rett Syndrome Research Trust Uk. I'm lucky enough to know Estelle and her great family, despite Estelle being 11 years old but having a mental age of around 18 months you never hear the family complain about it, they go about life with a smile on their face, it really is so inspiring to see. A few weeks ago I was round their place watching the Warrington vs Br*dford cup game over a few beers and when Warrington scored a breakaway try Estelle started laughing and grinning at the tv screen, that's got to be worth a couple of quid from every Keighlian by itself! There's plenty of ways you can donate to this cause if you wish, I know times are hard for everyone at the moment so any donation will be very gratefully received, even if it's some spare loose change lying around or just the equivalent of a pint of ale. The website www.awalkforestelle.co.uk will take you to a page that's been set up on the justgiving website if you do decide to donate through this page and are a UK taxpayer please remember to gift aid your donation, the charity get an extra 25% on top from the government. I've used the site myself for donating to other projects. It's simple, quick, easy and secure. You can even leave messages of support if you wish. I believe there are sponsor forms behind the Hall of Fame Bar at Cougar Park feel free to ask the barstaff for one to fill in. They'll be a bucket collection at the home game against Halifax. If you're more interested in what we're doing feel free to join our Facebook group "A Walk For Estelle" or follow our newly set up twitter feed @Awalkforestelle. Where you'll find various updates on how we're training, the latest total raised, new stuff we have to sell at the launch night and where to look out for us in the media. Thanks Michael Scott

As I'm sure a lot of you know by now I'm involved with this. Unfortunately due to a serious knee injury I received around 12 years ago that required surgery I've been advised by doctors not to take part in the walk, which I know is contrary to some erroneous reports that were put out in the media. It's not for want of trying, I took part in the first training walk with the guys and they set a ferocious pace, I stayed with them to the end but after a well earned pint of cider in the Marquis of Granby, I discovered my knee had swollen really badly and struggled to walk for the next couple of days. Anyway instead of walking the trip, I've decided that I'll be supporting the guys on my bike, carrying essential items to lighten their load and also topping up their supplies of food and water etc. This doesn't mean I'm taking the task at hand any less seriously than anyone else though, I'm in training 3 times a week and those that know who I am, top right on the photo above, will know that I'm of shall we say a more robust stature. In the few weeks training so far I've lost 7.5kg and intend to lose a lot more before we go. Anyway, less about me. This cause has spiralled from a few mates wanting to walk the canal to raise a few quid and have a laugh whilst we at it in to something rather larger. The efforts of ourselves including some fantastic support work from the likes of Rach, and Wendy Holder has seen us raise I believe around £3,000 so far and things are in place that will help us raise much more. The Launch Night should be well worth coming down to, we've an auction taking place with some cracking items that have been kindly donated including a signed match worn shirt from Lee Briers, who is an ambassador for the Rett Syndrome Research Trust Uk. I'm lucky enough to know Estelle and her great family, despite Estelle being 11 years old but having a mental age of around 18 months you never hear the family complain about it, they go about life with a smile on their face, it really is so inspiring to see. A few weeks ago I was round their place watching the Warrington vs Br*dford cup game over a few beers and when Warrington scored a breakaway try Estelle started laughing and grinning at the tv screen, that's got to be worth a couple of quid from every Keighlian by itself! There's plenty of ways you can donate to this cause if you wish, I know times are hard for everyone at the moment so any donation will be very gratefully received, even if it's some spare loose change lying around or just the equivalent of a pint of ale. The website www.awalkforestelle.co.uk will take you to a page that's been set up on the justgiving website if you do decide to donate through this page and are a UK taxpayer please remember to gift aid your donation, the charity get an extra 25% on top from the government. I've used the site myself for donating to other projects. It's simple, quick, easy and secure. You can even leave messages of support if you wish. I believe there are sponsor forms behind the Hall of Fame Bar at Cougar Park feel free to ask the barstaff for one to fill in. They'll be a bucket collection at the home game against Halifax. If you're more interested in what we're doing feel free to join our Facebook group "A Walk For Estelle" or follow our newly set up twitter feed @Awalkforestelle. Where you'll find various updates on how we're training, the latest total raised, new stuff we have to sell at the launch night and where to look out for us in the media. Thanks Michael Scott

Re: A Walk For Estelle : Sun May 20, 2012 7:18 pm  

Hi everyone, you will be well aware that I'm also part of this fantastic charity walk for Estelle,think that Mick has covered most of what needs saying from his post but I would like to add my personal feelings on this amazing event.Al asked me to do this walk for Estelle at a cougars game a few weeks ago now,naturally I was only more than happy to become part of the 'Team'.I became friends with Al about 2 seasons ago through rugby games and I have to say he is a fantastic genuine man with a lot of laughs to give and always a positive person,so when I learned of his situation with Estelle my respect for him just soared through the roof and the whole family as mick has already said are completely inspirational.
So the walk, we have been through some pretty intense training these last few weeks and at times has been a painful exercise but also very rewarding and has been a lifestyle change for us all and probably for the better, whilst at the same time getting ourselves in peak condition for such a wonderful cause and a wonderful little girl, so as already has been mentioned, please give what you can cougar fans for the little Angels, bless them all,let's find a cure!

Andrew Aspinall.

Re: A Walk For Estelle : Mon May 21, 2012 10:20 pm  

http://youtu.be/3gWAPnf2Dnc Estelle's Dad - Al Dickinson talking about the walk.

http://youtu.be/3gWAPnf2Dnc Estelle's Dad - Al Dickinson talking about the walk.

Re: A Walk For Estelle : Wed May 23, 2012 1:34 pm  

Rick Graham takes time out during training to rescue a sheep which has fallen into the canal.

Now last week he became best buddies with a rather large dog.

You can't have 2 best friends Rick.

Re: A Walk For Estelle : Wed May 23, 2012 1:37 pm  

Andrew Aspinall talking about the walk from his Butchers Shop in Silsden. http://youtu.be/MPe_zuBm57o

Andrew Aspinall talking about the walk from his Butchers Shop in Silsden. http://youtu.be/MPe_zuBm57o

Re: A Walk For Estelle : Sun May 27, 2012 10:02 pm  

Re: A Walk For Estelle : Tue May 29, 2012 11:24 am  

New Website for the walk now live www.awalkforestelle.co.uk

New Website for the walk now live www.awalkforestelle.co.uk