Three northern dads who recently completed a 300-mile walking challenge have thanked supporters for helping them raise over £700,000.
Andy Airey, Mike Palmer, and Tim Owen – who are known as ‘3 Dads Walking’ – set off walking 300-miles between their homes in Greater Manchester, Cumbria, and Norfolk on Saturday 9 October, and after trekking for 15 full days while supportive crowds cheered them on along the way, they eventually crossed the finish line over the weekend.
The walk was in memory of their daughters – 18-year-old Emily Owen and 17-year-old Beth Palmer, who both died in March 2020, and Sophie Airey, who died just before Christmas in 2018.
The trio are raising funds for youth suicide prevention charity PAPYRUS.
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After each of their teenage daughters took their own lives, the dads – including Mike Palmer from Sale in Trafford – began talking about what they could do to prevent other families from going through the same heartbreak that they suffered, and so they set on the idea of walking from each of their homes in a bid to raise awareness.
The trio set up a JustGiving page in aid of PAPYRUS – which provides support and advice to young people struggling with thoughts of suicide, and anyone worried about a young person – and decided upon a fundraising target of just £30,000.
But after their story went on to capture the hearts of the nation, they have since gone on to smash their target by a whopping 1881%.
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They have now raised more than £700,000 – and donations are still continuing to pour in.
As well as worthy donations from people right across the UK, their fundraising efforts also caught the attention of some big-name Hollywood stars, including James Bond actor Daniel Craig, and Nicole Kidman – who both donated £10,000 each.
Daniel Craig was said to have been “very moved by the indescribable pain,” while Nicole Kidman named them “three completely brilliant dads, doing a completely brilliant thing, to benefit so many.”
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Mike Palmer has spoken on behalf of the trio to say ”thank you to everyone who has donated and supported us.”
“We’ve lost our little girls and we really don’t want other families to go through what we’re going through.”
“We hope that by linking our three homes and telling our three daughters’ very different stories we will put a spotlight on young mental health and ultimately the brutal effects of suicide,” he concluded.
The challenge may have been completed, but you can still donate to Andy, Mike, and Tim’s trek via their JustGiving page here, and find more information about the inspiration for their journey and what donations will go towards on the 3 Dads Walking website.
This Manchester bar is selling PINTS of Bloody Mary and a slice for six quid
Georgina Pellant
Whether it’s downing pints of water before bed, spending all day on the sofa asleep, or a big fat fry-up the morning after, everyone has a favourite hangover cure.
One of ours has to be the Bloody Mary, aka the best ever hair of the dog – a mixture of spicy tomato juice, vodka, lemon, hot sauce and, in a perfect world, something smoky with pickles.
So when we heard that Manchester rock bar Jimmy’s is selling PINTS of the stuff for just six pounds with a big fat slice of focaccia-like Detroit pizza included, we felt compelled to share the good news.
After all, party season is basically upon us – and that means struggling through more hangovers than we can typically endure.
Image: The Manc Eats
Image: The Manc Eats
The Ancoats boozer is currently home to Manchester’s original Detroit pizza heroes Corner Slice, a long time favourite in The Manc office from day one.
The team also has a pizza shop in Failsworth, but for the next month (well, until 23 December), they’re slinging their signature slices out of the kitchen at Jimmy’s to help you soak up the booze.
The deal, which is available every day, includes a pint of Bloody Mary and a square slice of their thick deep-pan Red Top pizza: a mixture of red sauce, Corner Slice’s signature cheese blend and basil pesto.
Available every day of the week, from open until the kitchen closes, you can opt to enjoy your pint of Bloody Mary and pizza in the bar or get it to take away if you’d rather curl up on the sofa with some grease and your favourite TV show.
Image: The Manc Eats
The brainchild of owners Frank Brashaw and Danny Broadbent, Corner Slice has made a well-deserved name for itself in Manchester thanks to serving up deep pan pizza with traditional Italian toppings and a curly cheese crust.
The popular Failsworth-originated pizzeria was the first to bring its Motor city-inspired rectangular pizza pies to Manchester after what it said was a “light bulb” moment during lockdown.
As well as the simple ‘Red Top’, some of Corner Slice’s best-loved dishes include square pies loaded with the likes of Korean Cauli, Portocini (a mix of portobello and porcini), and a number of regularly-changing specials and vegan specials.
Feature image – The Manc Eats
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FIFA allow rainbow flags and bucket hats in World Cup U-turn
Danny Jones
In a surprising U-turn by FIFA, the international governing body has instructed Qatar to allow rainbow flags and bucket hats to be taken into their stadiums.
The decision to reverse the policy comes just days after England, Wales and numerous other teams decided not to wear the One Love captain’s armband after it was warned they could face instant yellow cards and perhaps further punishment.
It remains unclear whether this reversal will extend to players wearing the armband, though it still seems unlikely at this stage.
Nevertheless, we’re happy to see the pride flags and rainbow colours signifying solidarity with the LGBTIA+ community making an appearance in the Middle East.
Wales were the first nation to get the rainbow colours on show ahead of their 2-0 defeat to Iran on Friday morning, installing pride corner flags with the team badge superimposed around their training camp.
The Dragons explained that, like other teams, they could not risk ignoring FIFA‘s ruling on the One Love armband through fear and lack of clarity over whatever the subsequent sanctions would be, but are now clearly trying to send a message where they can.
Wales Women manager Gemma Grainger admits she was 'disappointed' by FIFA's threats over the OneLove armband.
Wales have put rainbow corner flags in place at their training centre as well as placing an LGBTQ+ flag pitchside. pic.twitter.com/uA3RmmgM4J
The German national team also made their feelings known in what has now become an iconic sporting photo, portraying how allies have been “silenced” by the Gulf state.
We can only hope England make the most of their opportunity to take a similar stand and show their support for the LGBTQIA+ community, women’s rights and the migrant workers who suffered to make this beyond questionable World Cup happen.
Germany standing up and making a powerful statement. 👏
Although we should have been focusing on nothing other than football, the 2022 World Cup has been dominated by off-pitch controversies.
As well as Qatar‘s tough stance on alcohol — banning beer just 48 hours before the first game — the suppression of rights, media, freedom of expression and the human rights abuses committed against those who toiled to build the stadiums have all cast a shadow over the tournament.
Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate insisted that despite the travesty of the One Love armband decision, the team remain positive and “know what [they] stand for.
He also would not rule out sending a message in another way, reassuring reporters that despite having to accept the decision, “That’s not to say we won’t do anything moving forward if the timing’s right, but I think we are rushing to be seen to be doing something, we could make an error that doesn’t land well.”
Either way, at least fans now have a way of demonstrating their support by putting their rainbow flags and bucket hats on the world stage.
Once again, it’s not up for debate: football is a game for everyone.
Emily Sergeant -
27th October 2021 
