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Jonny be Good

COLERAINE FC sends its best wishes to supporter Jonny Doey who is taking part in a million step challenge this month…

Commencing yesterday, the feat – which works out at roughly 33,000 steps per day – is all for good causes as Jonny is raising funds for two charities in the process.

“From July 1 to July 31, I am going to embark on a million step challenge for the whole month, which is around 15 miles or 33,000 steps per day,” he said.

“It’s going to be an everyday challenge and a lot of people have been very kind in offering to help walk the route with me. People from Coleraine, Bushmills, Ballymoney, Limavady and across the borough have been in contact which has been brilliant.

“I have been training for it and this idea came into my head once schools went into lockdown. Yes, we were still working and doing online classes but during the day I was thinking this is a long day to be sitting in the house and we were allowed to exercise once a day under legislation.

“I thought I would go out and do a walk and one day it was 10 minutes, the next day it was 20 minutes and I just started to enjoy it. As time went on I was noticing that I was walking longer and I thought ‘is there anything I can do for charity’?

“The idea of doing a million steps in July came up as I would be off work anyway on summer holidays, so I knew it would be possible.”

Jonny revealed that he will raising funds for the Samaritans, as well as the Olive Branch who offer mental health services in Magherafelt.

“There are two charities that I will be raising funds for,” he continued.

“The first is the Olive Branch which is a free mental health counselling service in Magherafelt and they do fantastic work, as well as the Samaritans.

“They are two really good charities that depend on the giving of people to survive, especially with mental health on the increase and at the fore front, these charities are invaluable and more people are using them.

“You will likely find after lockdown that there are people who will require these services, and whilst there are thousands of worthwhile charities out there, these two caught my attention for their work in mental health and those who are struggling.”

Like every sports challenge, there must be a plan of action and Jonny has had to factor in the importance of family time during the summer months.

“I’ve got a plan to walk seven miles very early in the morning as I’m a husband with three young children aged seven, five and three,” he added.

“I don’t want to spend all summer not seeing them either.

“I’m going to get seven miles done in the morning, complete four miles in the afternoon and then three or four miles late evening once the children have gone to bed. It has been planned out like that anyway!”

“To be honest, I’m not getting any younger, so I’m expecting a few aches and pains. I’m 37 now but sometimes I feel like 52!

“I have physiotherapists, who, if they are allowed to, will provide free physiotherapy throughout the month.

“People have been very kind and sponsored me trainers and somebody bought me an Apple Watch, so I can track my steps. Since March, I have already been through two pairs of trainers and I’m now onto my third.”

You can donate to Samaritans HERE and Olive Branch HERE.