Football fans' 100-mile run for toddler's care

Two football fans who are running 100 miles (161km) in four days in aid of a toddler with spina bifida are "absolutely brilliant", according to the girl's father.

Alyssa, from Coventry, was diagnosed with the spinal condition after she was born and then suffered an infection which, after surgery, left her without the use of her legs.

Two Coventry City fans, Jack Howland and Matty Walker, decided to run from Millwall Football Club to Coventry and set off on Friday.

"It's been absolutely brilliant, the lads have done amazing. They had a £5,000 target which has been smashed," Alyssa's father, Ashley, said.

Howland, a friend of Ashley's, got in touch with him just before Christmas to say he wanted to do "something big" to raise money to help the two-and-a-half-year old.

As Alyssa's father is a Millwall fan he suggested running from the London-based club to Coventry over four days with his friend, Matty Walker.

They are due to finish at the Walsgrave pub on Monday evening.

"People do rally together and it is quite amazing really," Ashley said.

"I thought it was really nice that Jack thought we could put rivalries aside and he could combine the two and run from Millwall to Coventry."

After completing their third day, when they ran from Bletchley to Daventry in Northamptonshire, Howland posted thanks on his social media page to those who supported them on the run.

"Really slow start and tired legs. But we got it done," he added.

Spina bifida, which affects about 1,500 pregnancies a year in the UK, prevents the spine and spinal cord developing properly.

It can lead to paralysis, bowel, bladder and kidney problems.

The money raised from the run would go towards therapy and equipment for Alyssa, her father said.

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