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'I'm leaving my home in Burntwood to walk for three days through the Derbyshire countryside to raise money for Ashgate Hospice and Macmillan'

A Burntwood man is getting ready to put in the miles to walk more than 50 miles to his favourite football team's stadium to raise funds for charities close to his heart.

By James Vukmirovic
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Ben Kirk will set off from his home on July 31 in Burntwood and walk for three days through the Derbyshire countryside to raise funds for Ashgate Hospice and Macmillan.  

The 28-year-old will aim to arrive at the SMH Group Stadium in Chesterfield on August 2, in time for the club's first home match of the new season against Barrow AFC. 

He said he wanted to raise funds in memory of various people close to him who have been touched by the hospice, including his grandmother Margaret Openshaw, who was a volunteer before she died in 2018. 

He said: “I’ve wanted to raise money for different charities for a while and finishing in Chesterfield made Ashgate an obvious choice.

“Having family members volunteer at or receive care from Ashgate Hospice it felt even more fitting. 

Ben said he was inspired to do the walk in memory of his grandmother Margaret Openshaw, who was a volunteer before she died in 2018.
Ben said he was inspired to do the walk in memory of his grandmother Margaret Openshaw, who was a volunteer before she died in 2018.

“Chesterfield is where all my family is from and so the Spireites are my team and I’ve been a fan since I was little and have been attending games ever since. 

“What could be better than walking through the Staffordshire and Derbyshire countryside on a summer’s day in August?” 

The walk, which Ben has called “Home to Home”, will take him through Uttoxeter, Ashbourne, and Matlock, before arriving in Chesterfield, and will include overnight stays along the way. 

This is Ben’s latest challenge having previously taken part in a 40-mile overnight walk, a five-day Lake District trek, a “Lost in the UK” navigation challenge, and a 24-hour drive to every Premier League stadium. 

He has set a starting fundraising target of £500 but hopes to raise as much as possible, with all proceeds being split between Ashgate Hospice and Macmillan. 

Ben Kirk will walk for three days through the Derbyshire countryside to raise funds for Ashgate Hospice and Macmillan
Ben Kirk will walk for three days through the Derbyshire countryside to raise funds for Ashgate Hospice and Macmillan

He said: “I have a track record of doing ‘different’ charity events. I love walking and it has been a passion of mine since I was little. 

“I am fully aware of the physical demands that are ahead of me; blisters, aches and pains will be prominent I can imagine. 

"I will definitely invest in some better footwear than I wore last time.

“There will be times along the walk when it’s a struggle but people going through cancer treatment face far greater physical challenges, that gives me the inspiration to keep pushing in order to reach the end goal.”