Glossopdale pupil to take on 35 mile trip in aid of school in Africa

Not many people take the path from Glossop North End to Manchester United, but that is what an enterprising Glossopdale pupil is doing next weekend as he looks to raise money to help a school in Africa.

Twelve-year-old James McCarron is doing a sponsored walk that will see him trek from Glossop North End’s Surrey Street to Manchester United’s Old Trafford in order to showcase his love of football.

But as he also loves cricket, the following day he will walk from Lancashire’s Old Trafford Cricket Ground to the Old Glossop Cricket Club on Manor Park Road. 

He will take the 35-mile round trip over the weekend of 2-3 August.

James, who attends Glossopdale School, is raising money to fund a trip to Kenya where he will volunteer at a local school to teach in lessons, coach sports and even build new classrooms. 

The trip is organised by African Adventures, a special travel company that has partnered with 34 schools in developing areas of Africa to allow people to volunteer their help.

He said: “I go to both Old Trafford Football Ground and Old Trafford Cricket Ground to watch the professionals play, but I’ve never walked there before! So it will be a big challenge for me and I hope it will help raise funds to help get me to Kenya and volunteer at the schools over there.”

Mum Kat Wright added: “When he’s not playing football or cricket, he is watching them. So when he was coming up with fundraising ideas, he wanted to combine two of his passions and came up with this plan.”

Old Glossop Cricket Club Chair George White commented: “If one kid could do this, it’s Jimbo. Everyone knows the effort he puts into supporting the club, both as a young player, coach and spectator. So now it’s our turn to support him and we look forward to welcoming him home at the end of his trek.”

James’ fundraising page can be found at https://my.africanadventures.co.uk/fundraising/10985/1829/