A Kidsgrove man currently on his third 'stomp' across the country - this time taking on a gruelling 300 mile challenge - will be stomping into Alsager Music Festival on a week on Saturday (July 12th).

Paul Venables, 50, from Kidsgrove, is currenty trekking 300 miles from Celtic's stadium in Glasgow all the way to Stoke in aid of The Macari Foundation and The Davies Foundation and has set up s JustGiving page here

It'll be footie-mad Paul's longest walk yet after previously completing a 258-mile walk from Stoke to Cornwall in 2021 and a 150-mile walk from Stoke to Watford in 2023. 

While the treks are a test of endurance themselves, they are even tougher for Paul, who has Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, which makes walking painful.

Setting off on Sunday (June 29,th) he is walking in the footsteps of Macari himself, from where he started his football career at Celtic, before heading to Old Trafford and then finishing at the Macari Centre on July 13. 

Paul, known as the Bearded Wanderer, said: "For many years Alsager Music Festival has been an event in the calendar for my family.

"Setting up camp early doors, enjoying the weather (yes even those wet years) along with a few beverages.

"This year it's a little different for me…. My family and friends will be at AMF but I'll be part of something big in my life - a 300 mile charity walk!

"For a huge part of my adult life I have sat behind a desk, meaning that by my mid 40s I was definitely a bit portly! In 2019 I managed to get up from behind the desk and find the time to embraced those 10,000 steps per day for the month of March for 𝐂𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐫 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐔𝐊's Walk all over Cancer.

"Just to complicate matters, I'm a Zebra in that I suffer from 𝐸ℎ𝑙𝑒𝑟𝑠 𝐷𝑎𝑛𝑙𝑜𝑠 𝑆𝑦𝑛𝑑𝑟𝑜𝑚𝑒, meaning mainly unsightly lumps on my elbows and knees, '𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑐ℎ𝑦 𝑠𝑘𝑖𝑛' and quite relaxed joints.

"From a walking perspective this can give me stiffness and inflammation in my ankles and Achilles so even without these 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘴, some days walking full stop can be painful!

"Now at 50 this third (and final) 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘮𝘱 is probably my biggest ever! At 15 days and approximately 300 miles; it will see me start in Glasgow and then head South to Stoke via Manchester.

"This time, I'm raising awareness and funds for The Davies Foundation and The Macari Foundation, a homeless charity based out of Stoke-on-Trent. The walk reflects the patron of The Macari Foundation, Lou Macari. Please follow my journey here

"As it's been such a big day in our family calendars, I couldn't not attend Alsager Music Festival. So this will be the finishing point for Day 14, the penultimate day of this very long adventure and the plan is for me to arrive around tea time having walked from Wilmslow. "

Explaining his route, Paul said: "Lou started his career at Celtic. He then played for United, quite famously, and he's got his chippy just around the corner from it. 

"And then I thought let's finish at Stoke, because of the Victoria ground, which is not there anymore, but the Macari Centre is across the road. 

Paul after finishing his previous challenge from Stoke to Watford. (Supplied)

"There's a vast part of this where I'll be walking on my own, and it's obviously in your own head and all the rest of it, but I get to see the nice side of people. 

"I remember cars are pulled over to the side of the road to wish me well and donate in the previous walks. 

"Just to complicate matters, I'm a Zebra, in that I suffer from Ehlers Danlos Syndrome. As my variant isn't too bad [Classical Ehlers Danlos], it's mainly unsightly lumps on my elbows and knees, 'stretchy skin' and quite relaxed joints.

"From a walking perspective, this can give me stiffness and inflammation in my ankles and Achilles so even without these stomps, some days walking full stop can be painful."

As well as donating to the charities through his Just Giving page, Paul is also asking for support during his latest stomp.

He added: "Please help me raise much-needed funds for these community-based charities, or could you help me along the way, somewhere between Glasgow and Stoke. I'm still looking to have one of my stopovers paid for and money for a kitty alongside the Just Giving page.

"Or perhaps, if you're feeling up for it, then feel free to join me for a little while."

Paul has set a target of £2,000.

To donate, help with the stomp or to get in touch with Paul, visit his Just Giving page here.

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