12 Aug 2022 Community

Huddersfield Town fan Conor Mahoney is walking 94 miles to raise funds for The Kirkwood

Back in 2018, Conor Mahoney walked 27 miles from Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium back to Huddersfield Town’s John Smith’s Stadium in an effort to raise funds for The Kirkwood. Four years on from raising an incredible £4,103 he has decided to take on an even bigger challenge with friends and family.

On the 26th August 2022, Conor a loyal Town fan, and The Crown Scissett Sunday Football League side will be walking 94 miles non-stop from West Bromwich Albion’s stadium, The Hawthorns, back to the Terriers' home ground. The walkers hope to make it back in time for the match on Saturday afternoon, where the Terriers will go head to head with The Baggies in the Sky Bet Championship.

Conor is raising funds for The Kirkwood to support the charity which cared for his step mum, Kae, back in 2018. Kae died of cancer but was cared for in the last week of her life by The Kirkwood's nurses and care team on our In-Patient Unit.

Conor says although he is ready for the gruelling challenge, he believes it will be one of the hardest things he has ever done. However, the 22 year old is confident that they will finish the walk - and are determined to make the big kick off on the day.

Conor said: “In all honesty, despite the challenge we face, I’m really looking forward to it for sure.

"While thinking of ideas to follow on from our first walk from The John Smith’s to The Etihad back in 2018, I wanted to blow it out the water and challenge myself and the lads walking with me as much as I could whilst keeping it relevant to Town. I think we’ve done a pretty good job at picking a big challenge in walking from West Brom back to Huddersfield in time for the game.

“To walk 94 miles over a couple days is some task in itself, however that wasn’t enough for me, so we're going to do it with no sleep over 30 or so continuous hours, including walking through the night.

"The challenge spurs us on that little bit more to prove those who don’t think we can complete it are wrong!

"I can’t wait for the moment when we reach the stadium back in Huddersfield, not only to give the legs a rest, but I also don’t think the feeling of completing the walk will be quite like anything I or we as a group have experienced before.

“It's going to be one of, but most likely the hardest thing I’ve ever done, however that again encourages me personally to make sure I get the walk finished in time for the football. I am well aware we will face both physical and mental challenges throughout, but I couldn’t ask for a better set of lads to take on this challenge with as I know we’ll push each other on through those tough periods.”

Conor who lives in Clayton West is incredibly proud to be raising funds for The Kirkwood, who cared for his step mum Kae back in 2018. Kae, who was just 44 when she died, was diagnosed with cancer and spent the last week of her life being cared for on our In-Patient Unit.

Conor expressed how much he respects our amazing staff who work for The Kirkwood and says it is a privilege to raise funds for us as a charity.

On his experience with The Kirkwood, Conor said: “The Kirkwood is a charity I wasn’t really familiar with, or aware of, before my late step-mum Kae Mahoney fell ill and spent her last days there four years ago.

"Back in late 2018, Kae suddenly fell ill and was diagnosed with cancer which grew and took over her body very quickly. Only 44 years young, and having fallen poorly incredibly quickly, she spent her last week or so in The Kirkwood's care, and we as a family couldn’t have asked for a better place for her to spend her final days. Despite the fact I only had the chance to visit once before she sadly passed away, that singular visit proved to me just how special the place is and the people who work there really are! The facilities are incredible, the staff were unbelievable and ensured not just Kae’s, but every single person spending their last days at the hospice were comfortable and so very well looked after. The gardens surrounding the building are incredible. It’s such a special place, and to be able to play a small part in helping those in need means so much to me and my family as we’ve experienced it first-hand.

“As previously mentioned, to be in a position where I have and can continue to support this amazing charity is such a great feeling, as all donations and money raised go towards families and those who need it most. After experiencing a family member staying at The Kirkwood first hand has also has shown us just how much time, care and effort is given towards every single person who spends their last days at the hospice, no matter what the circumstance. Having this kind of charity that provides the top quality care they do is massive for the local community.”

Conor and his team have already smashed their target of £500 and now they are aiming to double that by the time the walk starts.

Conor is both confident of hitting that target but also thankful for the donations made so far.

He said: “When we first set out to do our first walk, we initially had a target of £250. We thought this was realistic and achievable, boy were we proved right! Come the week or so after we’d completed the walk, we’d raised an incredible £4,103, which was such a humbling experience being able to donate such an amount on everyone’s behalf and one that will certainly stay with me forever.

“This time round, we still wanted to keep the target realistic, but push ourselves a little further than last time. So initially we had gone with a £500 target for our Just Giving Page (which we reached within eight days), and now we’re looking to hit the £1,000 mark (I will dye my hair silver if it is reached) which I definitely think is possible to achieve.

“We’ve already been shown how generous folk are, especially during these testing times which we are all currently experiencing financially, and I can’t thank everyone enough who’ve already donated or may donate soon. It means a hell of a lot to not only myself, but my family and no matter how much you can donate it all goes a long way towards helping those who need it most and who are receiving The Kirkwood's special care.”