Following the success of March of the Day in March 2024, a walk around football clubs in the north, the event was repeated in 2025 only this time around clubs in the south. 

In 2024 the event raised £200,000 for the Darby Rimmer MND Foundation, and the 2025 event has already raised over £150,000. I know, personally, two people who have Motor Neurone Disease and one asked me to assist by being a go between for the organisers and Welling United. I put them in touch with Welling board member Paul Barnes and also decided that I wanted to participate.

Having retired from my office job in the City at the end of July, I had already started walking every day, but these were gentle strolls. When I saw what was expected, I knew that I had to go on longer walks and to step up the pace so I gave myself a training regime.

I didn’t always enjoy it during the winter months but had a goal so made sure that I walked at least three miles every day. I increased my pace from eighteen minutes per mile to thirteen and a half minutes so I was ready to go.

On Friday, I travelled up to Stamford Bridge to start at Chelsea. I was a bit early so I walked around the outside of the club before chatting to organiser Mike Wilson, former Chelsea defender Gary Chivers, and Dave Setters, who had got me involved, and his team.

We then set off and I talked to Bryan Telfer, who is involved in catering at football clubs including Halifax, Hartlepool and Oldham Athletic. I then moved up alongside pace setter John McGinlay.

The former Bolton Wanderers and Millwall striker strode out too quickly, causing us to lose contact with those who had maps, and we went in the wrong direction. Although we took a longer route, we still arrived at Fulham’s Craven Cottage at the same time as the rest of the group.

From Fulham to Loftus Road, Queen’s Park Rangers, I walked with the same pacemaker but, this time, we followed the right track. We had some interesting conversations which included him telling me when he played for Millwall and lived in Bexleyheath.

He said that when Millwall weren’t playing midweek games, but Welling were, he used to walk to Park View Road and watch the Wings. After the group photo outside QPR, I made my way home.

Then, on Saturday, Welling photographer Dave Budden and I were given a lift to Bromley by my wife to start walking from Hayes Lane.

Upon arrival greetings were extended by Bromley FC Community Trust’s Jeff Hutton and Alex Koroma. There was a slight delay while the core walkers enjoyed their breakfasts so some of the other walkers set off.

Dave and I continued to wait for another ten minutes or so with ‘Team Welling’ before deciding to start. The two of us were keener to step on and walked with Simon Woods with his Spaniel at first. We continued and passed the advance party somewhere around Elmstead Woods before arriving at the mid check point in New Eltham.

At that point, Ron Fox joined us and the three of us continued towards Welling. We continued to walk at a decent speed and despite having set off from Bromley twenty minutes later than planned, we still arrived at Park View Road on schedule.

There is no doubt that we were helped by ‘Bike Man’ Damian James who road his motorcycle up and down the route ensuring that everyone was okay, and handing out water. It was also great for me that my wife Judith and oldest daughter Natalie were waiting for us at Park View Road.

We waited for the core walkers and the groups of other walkers to arrive for the group photo before wishing good luck to those who still had thirty six hours ahead of them, including other former footballers Stuart Barlow, Matt Holland and Filipe Morais. 

It’s still possible to donate to helping to find a cure for this brutal terminal condition and if anyone can assist, no matter how small, any contribution to www.justgiving.com/page/mark-doig-1 would be hugely appreciated.