Members of a Warton football club that focuses on men’s mental health and wellbeing is set to undertake a 27-mile charity walk in memory of Preston woman Mary O’Gara.
Mary had been training to be a nurse and was 27 when she died by suicide in May 2020. The Mary O’Gara Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation set up to prevent youth suicide, was established in 2022 by Mary’s parents and family.
Atletico Warton brings men of all ages together for 5-a-side football matches and, in doing so, allows players to remain active and socially engaged in the process.
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Rick Willacy, from Atletico Warton, said charity fundraising was a major focus for the group and this year they had decided to raise funds in memory of Mary by undertaking a 27-mile walk on 30 May.
With a lot of the club coming from Preston and knowing Mary, Rick said they were keen to walk 27 miles to mark Mary’s age when she passed away.
He said: “We are setting off from Ewood Park because some of the lads are Blackburn fans, and then we will head to Deepdale for the North End fans among us, including myself.
“We will then head to the Royal Preston Hospital where Mary worked and then it’s on to Lytham, with the plan being to finish at Lytham Taps.”
Setting off at 7am, they are aiming to finish in Lytham by just after 6pm.
As Blog Preston recently reported, the Mary O’Gara Foundation will hold a charity fundraising ball on Saturday, 23 May, at Deepdale in a bid to raise even more funds.
To donate to Atletico Warton’s charity cause, click here: Atletico Warton’s 27 mile trek for Mary
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