A GROUP of friends will walk from Falmer to Fulham to fundraise for a mental health charity in memory of their friend.
Alex Broadley, 39, from Worthing, took his own life on June 26 after suffering with depression.
His friend, Russell Booty, alongside 15 of Alex’s family and friends, will walk from the Amex Stadium in Falmer, Brighton to Fulham FC’s home ground, Craven Cottage, to pay tribute and raise money for Calm.
Alex was a huge Fulham fan, while many of his friends are season ticket holders at Brighton and Hove Albion.
To coincide with the fixture between the two teams, the almost 50-mile walk will take place on December 14.
Russell said that the death of Alex has hit his friendship group really hard, particularly as lockdown meant they could not attend a funeral service.
He said: “Alex was just one of our best friends, he was always around and someone who for me personally, was someone who influenced my life quite a lot.
“We were all very aware that he was suffering with his mental health quite a lot and we were aware that he was often having periods when he was suffering from depression, but I don’t think any of us kind of knew quite how bad he had become.
“We haven’t been able to have a memorial for him or a funeral, so I think this is going to be our way of drawing a line and saying goodbye to him, I think.”
The group hit their initial fundraising target of £5,000 on November 5, on what would have been Alex’s 40th birthday.
💙 This team is made up of Albion season ticket holders and friends and family.
— Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) November 5, 2020
The group will walk from #Falmer2Fulham to coincide with our game with @FulhamFC next month.
Find out more on how you can give them your support. 👇#BHAFC 🔵⚪️ https://t.co/f02jd8zhvF
They have now set a new target of £10,000.
Russell said that while the fundraising is an important element of the walk, he hopes that it will also provide an opportunity to reminisce and remember their friend.
He said: “We want it to be fun, but also a struggle to kind of represent what Alex was going through, in a strange kind of way.
“We want to be able to talk about Alex, share memories and stories that some of us might not have heard.
“We’re all going to have to talk about what Alex went through and hopefully it will help us all to open up and maybe we can excise a few demons en route.”
The fundraiser has already received support from Brighton and Hove Albion and Fulham, and Albion midfielder, Adam Lallana, has also tweeted his support.
To support the fundraiser visit https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/faimer2fulham.
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