By Lifelong GTFC fan’s 20 years of fundraising
An avid Grimsby Town FC enthusiast and tireless fundraiser for Cancer Research UK hopes to continue his efforts this year, and into the next.
Simon West had previously been involved in fundraising, being involved in Louth Round Table, he started in Louth Run for Life 2006, marshalling and arranging a group of other volunteers.
“It wasn’t seen as being more than a one-off, but at the debrief of the run they decided to do the event again & I was asked to join the committee. I was put forward as chairman and the rest is history.” Simon said.
In November 2013, Simon sadly lost his brother to leukemia, and his wife was diagnosed with breast cancer in February 2014.
“Since then have either lost many friends or family to cancer, or it has affected many of their lives. If all of the fundraising manages to save 1 person’s life then it has all been worthwhile,” he said.
The last 20 years of Simon’s fundraising have been varied, some individual events, some local with round table, and some leading the Louth Run For Life group.
“The run started very small amounts but around the time of the London 2012 Olympics, it really started to increase & continued to rise to the levels we are seeing over the recent years. Even through lockdown, we managed to arrange events to fundraise.” He said.
Simon has been a fan of GTFC for many years and has even had recently, James McKeown and Luke Waterfall support his fundraising.
He added that fans and the club itself have been accommodating and supportive of his requests for fundraising help.
“I have also had fans donate items for me to auction off Also the football club has been supportive of my requests for items to help to fundraise.
“I would like to thank: Everyone who has taken part in the fundraising events we have put on, from charity runs, music events, charity balls, etc, as well as those who have donated items for raffle and auction prizes. I would like to thank the rest of the Louth Run For Life team who work tirelessly to put on events to increase the vital fundraising for Cancer Research Uk. “ he said.
Simon said up to the previous year, he had raised around £547,000 and is now hoping to raise around £50k and is looking for donations.
(Image:SimonWest/Facebook)
