Crystal Palace fans are glad all over in sponsored Marathon March
BY TOBY PORTER
toby@slpmedia.co.uk
It might not have been drag racing, but it was drag walking.
Cross-dressing comedian Eddie Izzard was in his best togs to support work with vulnerable young people on a sponsored walk with Crystal Palace fans doing a Marathon March.
Club chairman Steve Parish and former players Mark Bright and Andy Gray helped bring in £56,000 thanks to the 130 supporters on a charity walk in the rain on Sunday.
They raised funds for Palace for Life Foundation’s work with vulnerable young South Londoners.
Mr Izzard, a Foundation patron, fired the gun to start the Marathon March, then joined Eagles fans as they headed through Thornton Heath and Mitcham towards Wimbledon Common.
The comedian said: “Walking a marathon is a joy for me. It’s all about helping young people in South London and mental health is our focus this year.”
Mr Parish also walked the full 26.2 miles in support of the Foundation’s work, through Richmond Park,
passing Craven Cottage and Stamford Bridge before ending up in central London.
He said: “The Marathon March helps to highlight the work the Foundation are doing out in the community. Hopefully people will be even more generous with their support this year.
The Foundation does incredible work to confront some of the problems we have in South London, like knife crime and youth violence, using the power of the Palace badge to show young people that there is a different path they could be taking.”
More than £56,000 has been raised so far, with some of the funding going towards expanding the Foundation’s Team Mates mental health intervention, that runs in primary schools.
Mike Summers, from Palace for Life Foundation, said: “The reason we’re all here is to try and raise funds for our work, in particular for our Team Mates mental health programme.”
Walkers, who ranged in age from nine to 80, braved heavy rain to complete the walk, maintaining high spirits throughout and uniting at the end for a rendition of Selhurst Park favourite, Glad All Over.
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