Brighton and Hove Albion fan walks to 20 football stadiums in nine days to support Sussex charity

Mike Price took on a charity walk – ‘Footsteps to Football’ – which started from his home in Lincolnshire on Friday (May 10).

He walked more than 240 miles, calling at 19 football clubs in London from the Premier League down to the National League, finishing at his beloved Brighton and Hove Albion on May 19 – when they played Manchester United on the last game of the season.

Mike was diagnosed with head and neck cancer in 2017. After being told he had a 60/40 chance of survival, he underwent extensive chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

With a ‘great deal of good fortune and positivity’, Mike was able to ring the bell, having been given the all clear in 2023.

Mike said: “I went through a traumatic time. I lost four stone in weight and my speech took a long time to come back. You have to life adjust to what you come out of it with.

“I will have continuous medication for the rest of my life.

“It's not easy but you can get through it with a bit of positivity.

“You look at life differently. First of all, you are grateful to be here. Secondly, you look around and want to see good. Want to put things right. Help people. It makes you a bit more attentive to doing something and not just talking about it.”

With that in mind, Mike has ‘strived to give something back’ by taking part in ‘many charity events’.

After raising thousands for cancer charity Maggie’s, Mike chose a new cause to support.

"I would like to do the very same now with Sussex based charity Forward Facing, which provides support to families whose children are living with long-term or life-limiting conditions,” he said.

“I've been a Brighton season ticket holder for many years – I’ve followed them since late 70s. It's a family club and I'm surrounded by some really great characters.

"Many have got disabilities. You learn their stories and how they live. Forward Facing came up in conversation. Being a local charity, it was perfect to try and help. A lot of my friends at the club benefit from it so I went down that road.”

Mike covered 240 miles – walking the equivalent of a marathon every day for nine days and treading more than half a million footsteps.

“Some of the responses, especially from the smaller clubs, has been fantastic,” Mike said.

"Watford are going to have a T-Shirt printed for me when I arrive.

"On Saturday prior to the game, I will finish at Ditchling that night. The next morning I will do five miles over Ditchling Beacon, over the Downs into the University and the Amex. Finley, The Mighty Fin, will be joining us in a specially designed chair.

“It's all about creating awareness of Forward Facing as they need funds to make it all work and getting their name out there. They don't get the exposure they deserve. I've seen the benefits first hand.”

Mike successfully completed the challenge, raising more than £8,000 for Forward Facing – far exceeding his £2,400 target.

He was able to share his story with the 31,662 fans at the Amex – as he was invited onto the pitch before the match to be interviewed.

Speaking after the walk, Mike said: “For me to experience football at different levels but the common ground was all so similar.

“To push a young man over Ditchling Beacon and share the final five miles with some dear friends, my daughter and my cockapoo Dunky was so very special.

"The pinnacle moment for me was to push my football buddy ‘Robbie’ in his chair from the university to the Amex, and then walk arm in arm with him to the finish line.

"A great advert for his ability, him as a beneficiary wanting to give Forward Facing something back. It was very, very emotional.

"Robbie and his mum, Tania Heward, were the people that initially gave me the desire to want to do something football related.”

If you would like to make a donation, please visit www.justgiving.com/page/mike-price-1705072303151.