A GROUP of football fans have completed a charity walk from Falmer to Fulham in memory of their friend.

Alex Broadley, 39, from Worthing, took his own life on June 26, 2020 after suffering with depression.

His friend Russell Booty, alongside 15 of Alex’s family and friends, trekked from the Amex Stadium in Falmer, Brighton to Fulham FC’s home ground Craven Cottage to pay tribute and raise money for CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably).

The Argus: Alex Broadley was a lifelong fan of Fulham F.C.Alex Broadley was a lifelong fan of Fulham F.C.

The team set off on December 14, completing the 50-mile walk in just two days, to coincide with Albion's match against Fulham at Craven Cottage

Alex was a huge Fulham fan, while many of his friends are season ticket holders at Brighton and Hove Albion.

Despite the wet and windy weather conditions, everyone in the group completed the trekk, spurred on my Alex’s memory.

Russell said: “There were so many different fitness levels amongst us and that first day was tough going because of the terrain.

The Argus: Alex's brother Dan completed a 50-mile walk in Australia to support the fundraiser.Alex's brother Dan completed a 50-mile walk in Australia to support the fundraiser.

“I think it was about 30 miles we did on that first day in the end and there was quite a lot of injuries.

“A lot of us were thinking people were going to start dropping out but the next morning everyone was there, and everyone cracked on, which was pretty amazing really.

“We kept in our minds that no matter how hard it was going to be we needed to keep going and that was kind of the mantra of the whole thing.”

Alex’s brother Dan Broadley, who lives in Australia, walked the same distance from Bondi to Manly Beach, while wearing a Fulham shirt with his brother’s name on the back.

The Argus: The group left a Fulham scarf and a Falmer2Fulham fundraising shirt at the Amex.The group left a Fulham scarf and a Falmer2Fulham fundraising shirt at the Amex.

The Falmer2Fulham fundraiser originally set out to raise £5,000, but the group have smashed their target and are now just shy of reaching a total of £18,000.

Russell said that he was “overwhelmed” by the support they received during their trek and how Alex’s story has already made an impact.

He said: “We met lots of people along the way, just strangers who got talking to us and they then looked on our site and ended up donating.

“There was one particular person who we met quite late on the first day, he was on his own and he was just wondering what all of us were doing.

“About a week later he made a donation with a comment about how he was struggling and that it had been really nice to see us and speak to us all and hear about Alex.

“I think we helped him that day. We were all pleased we bumped into him.”

As Albion prepare to take on Fulham in the Premier League this evening, Russell said the fixture always brings back happy memories of his friend.

He said: “It was always something that we would get in contact with each other about. It was a nice friendly rivalry so whenever that comes up, he’ll be in our thoughts more so than normal.”

To donate to the Falmer2Fulham fundraiser, visit https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/faimer2fulham