Programme seller and fan Barry Lakin recently completed a mammoth 60,000 step challenge, raising funds for the Leeds United Foundation.
A familiar face to many at Elland Road on a matchday, Barry, joined by his ‘crew’ made up of staff from the Foundation, walked dozens of laps around the stadium’s exterior.
As the magical 60,000 target had passed, Barry completed the challenge through a guard of honour from the club’s staff, finishing pitch side and thanking all those that had supported his efforts.
Barry’s mother became ill with dementia and sadly passed away earlier this year. Supported by the Dementia Corner Flag Café group at the Foundation, and other initiatives being delivered by the club’s official charity, the well-known programme seller ultimately set his heart on the walk to give back and help the vital work that goes on in the community continue.
On the walk, Barry was joined by a number of special faces, starting with Leeds United legend Eddie Gray. Following that, current first-team players Alex Cairns and Sam Byram dropped by to do a lap, as well as club CEO Angus Kinnear and Foundation CEO Frances Milner, with Leeds United Women's manager, Simon Wood, completing the entire challenge alongside him.
Speaking pitchside at Elland Road after finishing the final circuit, Barry explained what completing the challenge meant to him.
“It has just been a special day,” he told LUTV. “I can’t thank everyone enough for coming down and giving that support through the day. It has been an absolute privilege to do it for the Foundation, Health and Wellbeing and the Dementia Corner Flag café.
“It is in memory of my Mam, but for the Corner Flag café and of course the Foundation for helping me through. I think over the last couple of months it has sort of hit me a bit because they say however you suffer from a bereavement, it happens in all different ways.
“Having the Foundation, much like having all the crew around me today and all the staff around me, helped because I am around the LUDO Lounge a lot and have been coming down to some of the fit fan classes and stuff like that year-round. They have helped me through over the last two or three years.”
Club icon Eddie Gray, who accompanied Barry for a lap of the stadium, was full of praise for his achievements and fundraising efforts.
“It is unbelievable, I am so pleased for him and he is doing it with a smile on his face. How many people could walk that far and keep smiling? His enthusiasm for the walk, that is what makes it.
“The Foundation works hard for so many people and it is just a great achievement, and it brings people together as well. Watching them walking down Elland Road, people were peeping their horns and seeing them walking there. He is doing it for a great cause.”
Simon Wood, Health and Wellbeing Lead at the Leeds United Foundation, added: “He is an incredible guy. He has taken part in our programmes, achieved real good success and now he wants to give back. It has been a real inspiration for us walking around and we are really grateful for all the support he has had from people that have come and walked around with him, the players that have come and Eddie that came earlier.
“The money raised will go into the work we do with our Dementia group. It meets twice a month and it is really beneficial for the people that sadly have early onset dementia and their families. Every Christmas we have a Christmas dinner for them, so we will put it towards making that a really special event for them and putting a smile hopefully on a lot of people’s faces.”
Fans can support Barry’s fundraising efforts HERE. More about the Leeds United Foundation can be found HERE.
