A ‘football-crazy’ seven-year-old walked 24 miles in one weekend to raise money for charity.
Isaac O’Connor walked from his home in Eccleston Park, St Helens to the home of his favourite team, Manchester United last weekend in a bid to raise money for Alder Hey Children’s Hospital.
His determination comes off the back of family friend Tyson Fury’s daughter, Athena, requiring the services of the hospital earlier this year when she was born with a heartbeat that was more than double what it should have been.
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Speaking to the ECHO, Isaac said that we wanted to do this for Alder Hey as it’s a “really good cause and deserves the money.”
He said: “There’s many sick kids in the hospital and it’s really sad - so I wanted to help and raise money for them.”
Issac and his dad Chris explained that after witnessing the help that Alder Hey provides for ‘sick kids’ and how they helped Athena Fury, Isaac was determined to raise funds for the hospital and the seed for a charity walk was planted.
The weekend was divided into two 12 mile walks to make it more attainable for the youngster.
On Saturday Issac was joined by his mum who walked from his home in Eccleston Park to Culcheth, and on Sunday, dad Chris accompanied Isaac from his last stop on Saturday all the way to Old Trafford.
Where for most seven-year-olds a 24 mile walk would be unattainable, for football-mad Isaac it was a challenge he ‘knew he had to complete’ - and fortunately he already had a training routine which helped him prepare.
The St Helens boy trains between five and six times a week for his two football clubs, Rainhill United and Macclesfield FC Junior Academy with the hopes of one day making a career out of football.
During the walk Isaac said he met a number of incredible people along the way including a busker in Warrington who donated Isaac all of the change that he has received throughout the day.
Chris added: “There was a couple of joggers down the Transpennine Trail who stopped to speak to us and they donated as well and a lot of people who donated to the bucket we was caring - there’s just a lot of kind-hearted people out there.”
Outside of the walk he accumulated support from a number of famous faces wishing him the best luck - celebs such as footballers Wayne Rooney and Michael Carrick, boxer Anthony Crolla and Paris Fury.
Throughout the walk, a number of Isaac’s football team friends accompanied his at different points varying periods, with his friend Zach Gawronek who is a Liverpool fan, joining Isaac for the full 12 miles on Saturday.
Despite the walk’s finish coinciding with the news of a 5-0 defeat for his favourite team on Sunday both Isaac and his dad said that they remained on a high and if there's anything that can unite the fans of the two rivals, it’s Alder Hey.
Proud dad Chris said: “We are fierce rivals but at the end of the day Alder Hey brings everyone together.
“Whether you’re from Liverpool or Manchester, everyone needs Alder Hey regardless of who you support as its a North West resource, so it’s just a fantastic thing that everyone came together.
“Love him to bits, couldn't be any more proud of a dad to be honest.”
So far Isaac has raised more than £3,190 for the charity, however has no plans of stopping anytime soon.
Chris added: “Isaac would really like to become an ambassador for Alder Hey and do more to raise money for them so we’re looking get into that at the moment.
“We’d really like to hit the £5,000 mark but who knows!”
Isaac added: “I'm really proud. I've raised lots of money for the kids to help them feel better.
"I want to raise more money for Alder Hey in the future."
To donate to Isaac's fundraiser, visit the link here
