An overview of Wanderers' activities in the area during May
Prior to Wanderers’ final game of the season against Birmingham City, Adam Bogdan paid a visit to local football team Breightmet United to celebrate the club winning £5,000 to makeover their pitch and facilities in conjunction with Capital One.
As part of a UK wide grassroots football campaign, the prize was awarded as part of Capital One’s ‘Grounds for Improvement’ programme which strives to improve the condition of football pitches up and down the country.
Judged by a panel of experts including former England international Ian Wright and Britain’s oldest Sunday League footballer Derek May, Breightmet United were one of ten amateur football clubs selected to receive £5,000 to renovate their facilities while Scottish side Glenelg were awarded the top prize of £75,000.
The nationwide search attracted more than 1,000 entries from clubs and community pitches across the country.
Alongside Bogdan's trip into the local area, the club also hosted the launch of local resident Janet Darwell’s fundraising campaign for Bolton based charity Fortalice.
Upon her arrival at the stadium, Janet was joined by club chaplain Phil Mason alongside the Mayor and Mayoress of Bolton to officially mark the start of her fundraising.
A keen cyclist of over 35 years who has enjoyed both competitive cycling and touring, she has also participated in time trials and 24 hour endurance events plus having ridden across Europe and also from Land’s End to John O’Groats.
Now however, Janet is set to embark on a different challenge as she bids to walk the Pilgrims Route this month which will take her 500 miles through France and Spain to Santiago de Compostela.
Due to complete the walk with her sister-in-law who is a lifelong runner, Janet is aiming to raise £2,000 for Fortalice, a local charity which was established in 1977 to provide emergency accommodation and a range of support services for women, children and young people who have experienced domestic abuse.
The organisation’s refuge centre can accommodate 22 women with or without children and their support centre offers help to over 1000 women and young people throughout the year.
Janet’s donations will be used to set up a counselling service for younger children from the age of four upwards who have suffered trauma through domestic abuse – something that is not readily available in the Bolton area.
Those wishing to support Janet can do so by organising a fundraising activity of their own, sponsoring her at www.justgiving.com/Janet-Darwell or by donating to the charity directly at fortalice.org.uk.