Pictures John Hopkins
A remarkable 860-mile charity challenge came through Warrington as Sophie Hunt continued her gruelling journey from John O’Groats to Land’s End – with a particularly special reunion along the way.
Sophie, Female Football Pathway Manager at Oldham Athletic Community Trust (OACT), is undertaking the Latics to the Limits Challenge, aiming to complete the journey in just 24 days while raising money for Oldham Athletic Community Trust and Fullcircle nw CIC.
The challenge is seeing Sophie cover an average of around 35 miles every day, with the overall journey stretching approximately 860 miles.And her Warrington stop had a very personal connection.
As Sophie arrived in the town on Saturday, she was joined for part of the route by young people from Fullcircle – including girls she previously coached through the Premier League Kicks Friday Night Football programme.
Sophie previously led and delivered Friday Night Football sessions for girls aged seven to 14, helping provide opportunities for young people to get involved in football and physical activity.
The reunion provided a poignant reminder of the people and communities behind the fundraising challenge.
Saturday was one of the toughest stages of the challenge, with Sophie facing a staggering 45-mile run/cycle as she continued southwards.
The Warrington stop was planned for around 11am at the Tesco on Winwick Road, where the young people from Fullcircle were able to meet Sophie and accompany her for a short distance.
For Sophie, the challenge is about far more than completing an extraordinary physical feat.
The fundraising campaign aims to support the work of both OACT and Fullcircle, helping provide opportunities, support and positive experiences for children, young people, families and communities across Oldham.
According to the campaign, the money raised will be split equally between the two organisations.
Warrington connection helps keep Sophie moving
There is also a strong local connection behind Sophie’s challenge through Burtonwood-based Sam Heaton of SamUpSamDown.
Sam has supported Sophie both in preparation for the challenge and throughout her journey, helping with strength training and providing practical support on the road – including meal preparation, driving and general assistance.
Sam runs traditional Chinese medicine treatments in Burtonwood as well as online fitness coaching, specialising in running, strength training and mobility.
They also organise community walks and events, making community support a central part of their work.
The challenge is already attracting significant support.
At the latest update available on Sophie’s JustGiving page, £7,337.26 had been raised online and offline, with a further £721.14 in Gift Aid, taking the overall total to more than £8,000. The campaign has received 114 donations.
The campaign has set its sights on raising £20,000 for OACT and Fullcircle, with supporters continuing to back Sophie as she tackles the huge daily distances.
The JustGiving campaign describes the challenge as being about “pushing boundaries, bringing people together, and using one huge journey to make a lasting difference” across Oldham.
For Fullcircle, donations can help fund youth club activities, healthy food and refreshments, creative activities and one-to-one support for young people.
For OACT, the fundraising will help support its wider work using sport, education and health and wellbeing initiatives to create positive opportunities for communities.
Businesses and community supporters have also been getting behind the challenge, with sponsorship opportunities available to help cover the practical costs of the epic journey.
Sophie has received support ranging from fundraising events to specialist medical equipment, including a defibrillator supplied by Sports Physio UK.
The campaign has also attracted day sponsors, with businesses being encouraged to sponsor individual stages of the journey and help Sophie cover essentials such as food, transport and support.
The Latics to the Limits challenge is combining endurance, football and community in an extraordinary journey across Britain.
For Warrington, however, the most memorable part was perhaps not the number of miles Sophie had covered – but seeing her reunited with some of the young people she had previously coached.
From a Friday night football session in Oldham to an 860-mile journey across the country, Sophie is showing that the relationships built through community sport can continue long after the final whistle.
And with every mile bringing her closer to Land’s End, the support continues to grow.
To support Sophie and the Latics to the Limits campaign, visit the official JustGiving page: Latics to the Limits – JustGiving
