Dad of Darwen football star Anthony Pilkington to run New York marathon (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Dad of Darwen football star Anthony Pilkington to run New York marathon

3:00pm Monday 17th September 2012 in News

THE father of a premiership footballing star is to run the New York City Marathon to raise money for charity.

Darwen dad Neil Pilkington, whose eldest son Anthony is a player at Norwich City, is to take on the 26.2mile challenge with friend and Lucite International colleague Russ Egan to help support the When You Wish Upon a Star foundation.

The 48-year-old, who lives in Jacks Key Drive with his wife Sandra, said both Anthony, 24, and his younger son Daniel, 22, who plays for Kidderminster Harriers, had been really supportive and were helping out with extra fundraising for the organisation, which is very close to their hearts.

Neil said: “Anthony has thousands of followers on Twitter and he has been setting up a competition each week where if people donate, he will enter them into the running to win signed shirts and boots that he has worn.

“Daniel set me up a just giving page too.

“They have been fantastic and they are going to take sponsor forms in for the lads to help me out in any way they can.”

Neil is hoping to raise £5,000 for the children’s charity, which helps make the dreams of young people living with life-threatening illnesses come true.

He said: “A couple of people we know in Darwen have used the charity, one of the guys who works with me at Lucite International has used it and he suggested we should run for Make a Wish.

“Training is going well, but it is a long way to run and it is quite daunting, having never done it before.

“It is like running from Darwen to Manchester, but I keep the cause in my mind all the time and every time I ache, I think about what I am doing it for.”

To sponsor Neil for the runn on November 4, visit www.justgiving.com/Neil-Pilkington-newyorkmarathon

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