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Hero Nolan's support for Meningitis UK cyclists

23.05.11

TOON hero Kevin Nolan is supporting a team of cyclists making an epic trip from West Bromwich Albion to St James' Park to raise cash for charity.

The team of three left The Hawthorns - the home of West Brom - to trek 200 miles to the ground in time for their last game of the season against Newcastle.

And as they make the challenge they will be collecting money for the Liam Keeling Memorial Fund, which was set up in memory of the 13-year-old, who lost his battle with Meningitis in 2009.

Cash from the memorial fund will be given to Meningitis UK, which will be used to fund work to find a vaccine for all forms of the disease.

And yesterday, as the team started their journey, Newcastle captain Kevin Nolan showed his support to the team.

He said: "It's a tremendous achievement to cycle all the way to Newcastle from West Bromwich and for a fantastic cause too.

"I'm sure they'll complete the ride in time, enjoy the game and raise plenty of money for Liam."

Along the way the team of West Brom season ticket holders will visit Mansfield, York, Durham and finally Newcastle on Sunday.

Roy Lowe, who will be part of the back-up team, said: "It's great that people are coming together to help and support the memorial fund. I sit near the cyclists at the ground and they told me about the trek and I volunteered to help them out.

"From what I know Liam was football mad and would have loved what they are doing."

Liam, of Cheslyn Hay, Walsall, West Midlands, died suddenly in 2009, just two weeks after celebrating his thirteenth birthday.

He contracted type B bacterial meningitis - a strain for which there was no vaccine.

And since the teenager's death his parents Andy and Georgina have been devoted to raising money for the charity.

And since they started their campaign they have managed to collect £70,000 for the charity.

Fund chairman Richard Holmes said: "The success of the campaign is down to Liam's popularity. He was so well-loved and his death came as a huge shock to everyone.

"We're amazed ourselves at how much has been raised. We've never struggled to get people along to events, which is a sign of how strongly people feel about the cause."