Football fans step out for Bradley Lowery Foundation

A group of football fans from across the North East have hit the road for the Bradley Lowery Foundation.
The whole team ready for the offThe whole team ready for the off
The whole team ready for the off

A group of Sunderland, Newcastle and Middlesbrough fans have set off from the Stadium of Light, bound for the Magpie's St James's Park.

The walk is the brainchild of 'Mackem Mover' Steve Turner and colleague Lee Lawler, who runs a YouTube channel for Newcastle fans.

The whole team ready for the offThe whole team ready for the off
The whole team ready for the off
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The pair work for Sky and have roped in friends and workmates to join the walk.

They aim to realise at least £300 , which Sky has pledged to match-fund.

"The aim is two-fold, really, " said Steve.

"We want to raise money for the Bradley Lowery Foundation but also to keep awareness of the charity going."

Organisers Lee Lawler and Steve 'Mackem Mover' TurnerOrganisers Lee Lawler and Steve 'Mackem Mover' Turner
Organisers Lee Lawler and Steve 'Mackem Mover' Turner

Steve was at the Stadium this morning to wave the walkers off, but is planning to run the 12 or so miles between the grounds.

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"I will drive through to Newcastle, drop the car off and then get the Metro back through," he said.

Lee, from Newcastle, runs the Newcastle Fans TV channel on YouTube: "We have got about 11,000 followers and we wanted to do something for the community," he said.

"A friend of mine suggested we raise funds for the Bradley Lowery Foundation. It helps lots of children across the UK and we want to help them raise money for research to help those kids.

The whole team ready for the offThe whole team ready for the off
The whole team ready for the off

"We are proud to be working together - football is nothing compared to lives."

David Bertram, from Hartlepool, works with Steve and Lee.

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"It is a fantastic cause and I am happy to be supporting the team," said Middlesbrough fan David.

"It's not about football rivalry today - supporting the charity is the main thing."

Organisers Lee Lawler and Steve 'Mackem Mover' TurnerOrganisers Lee Lawler and Steve 'Mackem Mover' Turner
Organisers Lee Lawler and Steve 'Mackem Mover' Turner

Nick Johnson, from Hebburn, is a Newcastle fan who has been delighted by the way followers of both clubs have been brought together by Bradley and the deaths of Newcastle supporters John Alder and Liam Sweeney in the MH17 disaster three years ago.

"Newcastle fans fell in love with Bradley Lowery just as much as Sunderland fans did," he said.

"You looked at that face and you could not help but fall in love with it. Sunderland fans had the same feeling about the two lads who died in the plane crash."