Mike Amos ended his 20-year spell as Chairman of the Northern League raising money for charity through his ‘Last Legs’ walk where he visited every Northern League Club during the 2015 / 2016 season walking 8 to 12 miles to each of the 44 grounds.
Mike walked over 500 miles and raised £27,000 with half the money going to the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation with the other half going to charities nominated by Northern League Clubs in £1,000 segments.
Bishop Auckland Football Club nominated the charity GAIN – Guillain-Barre & Associated Inflammatory Neuropathies.
Phil Graham used to go to matches at the Club’s Kingsway Ground with his grandparents when he was a young boy on holiday. Years later, having moved to the town, Phil worked for the Club as the official photographer when the Club moved from Kingsway to Heritage Park in 2010.
In October 2013 Phil took ill and quickly became paralysed from the neck down dependent upon others for every need. Diagnosed with Guillain-Barre Syndrome he spent ten months in James Cook University Hospital being discharged in August 2014. He came home with a wheelchair and zimmer frame but can now get around for limited periods using walking sticks.
On being told of the £1,000 donation Phil said: “I am humbled by the generosity of Mike Amos in donating this sum of money to GAIN, the charity which helps people such as me. Guilllain-Barre is a most frightening illness and the money will go a long way towards research into what causes it and eventually to finding a cure. The charity receives no funding other than through public donation.
Bishop Auckland Football Club Chairman Nick Postma who accompanied Mike Amos on two of his sponsored walks said “The Club was pleased to nominate the GAIN charity as we have seen first-hand the impact this illness has had on Phil”
Phil has also written a book ‘I’m going nowhere’ where he tells the story of his illness and how he lives with it. The proceeds of the book which costs £9.99 (£2 for postage) go to GAIN. The book can be obtained by contacting Phil on emailphil@filmar.co.uk
Picture attached by Peter Tate: Mike Amos (Left) Phil Graham (right)