Going gets tough for Tufnell
by Alan Rowley, 20th May 2004

It’s pain all the way for former England Test star Phil Tufnell as he starts his 500 mile walk around Test venues and village cricket grounds for Macmillan Cancer Relief. The npower 500 charity walk got under way at Hove on Sunday and Phil is already well on the way to clocking up the first 100 miles – but it hasn’t been easy.

Phil says on the official npower 500 website: “Preparing for the first day of the npower 500 was like preparing for my first England cap. I was nervous but very excited and wondering what lay in store. Now I know the answer; pain! By the time I arrived at my first stop, Uckfield CC, well....let's just say I have never been happier to see a chair and a pint of Guinness.”

Phil continued: “The high point of the first day was also a low point in a way. Just outside Brighton a lady ran up to me and put ten pounds in my collecting bucket. "I really think this is a great thing you are doing" she said and then she told me why: she had terminal cancer. That certainly put a few blisters into context.”

Phil has had to endure searing heat with the temperature reaching 28 degrees on the road. Walking in the lovely Sussex countryside is an attractive prospect for the Sunday afternoon hikers, but it takes on a different context when you have 500 miles and 28 days ahead of you.

Phil isn’t doing this by himself. He said: “The team I've got around me is fantastic. My fellow walkers, Tom and Mark, keep me going when things get tough and my girlfriend Dawn has been great.” His friends and family are with him all the way and Phil is helping clubs with their projects into the bargain. When he finished day three at the London Community Cricket Association ground he helped open the pavilion. Phil said: “It's a great place dedicated to helping handicapped and disadvantaged youngsters get into cricket. A lot of friends and family were there, which was nice.”

Phil said that money-wise the collection is going well but he said: “We need more cash for Macmillan Cancer Relief so if you see us on the way throw something in our buckets.”

Readers in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire will have plenty of opportunity to catch up with the walk and to cheer Phil along. Phil reaches Derbyshire on May 31st when he arrives at Derbyshire County League club Parwich. He will depart from there the following morning heading for Yorkshire and Derbyshire club Hathersage. Phil and his entourage depart from Hathersage on Wednesday 2nd June and head off for South Yorkshire .

On the 9th June, the walk arrives in Hartington before departing the village the next morning on route for Premier League club Wirksworth. The final full day of the walk takes place on Friday 11th June when Phil walks to South Notts League club Eastwood Town. On Saturday 12th, Phil takes the short stroll from Eastwood down to Trent Bridge in time for lunch on the third day of the New Zealand Test.

We will be following Phil and his team as they head towards our area and we will be presenting full coverage of the walk through Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire. There will also be extensive coverage of the walk from Wirksworth to Eastwood, including the Outlawed v Sting In The Tail game at Eastwood Cricket Club. We will also cover the final leg down to Trent Bridge, including the finish on the pitch during the New Zealand Test match.

I’m sure everyone will be cheering Phil all the way, but you can help without leaving your living room by making a donation online. There will also be plenty of opportunities to buy Macmillan badges and donate at Eastwood. If you want to help make this a huge success, please contact alan@thefollowon.com.