The walk is something we all do,
whether it's to the hallowed arena of Elland Road, towards a stadium in
opposition territory fuelled by blind faith and high spirits, or even up
Wembley Way - it’s part of our matchday experience, and it’s something most of
us take for granted. At times, I feel I may have included myself among that
number, but no longer.
For those of you who don’t know
me, or are unfamiliar with my story, my name is Martin Hywood and I'm a 40-year
old Leeds United fan, living with and adapting to, a life with Limb-Girdle
Muscular Dystrophy. That common passion I have for my football club and those
great, good and often heartbreaking experiences, I share with you all. However,
because of my condition, I'm also starting to realise that this great big thing
that is such a large part of all our lives, and has been for all of our
lives…for me, it’s going to change, it has to.
In all my years as a Leeds fan, I
have enjoyed and will remember so much. Those early days of going to football,
the enthusiasm and camaraderie of your peers, passing on the knowledge and
sharing your predictions of what's to come; the drinks, the laughs, the mates.
On other days, I would have nobody to go with and I would make my own way. At
such a young age I felt like a stowaway, not many friends had any affection or
affiliation with Leeds; sometimes it was just me, alone - it was like my own
statement of independence - and it felt brilliant!
A bus from my place to Milton
Keynes, the National Express 561 service to Leeds, then a walk from the coach,
down to Elland Road with just enough cash for a pint in The Peacock, before
that familiar journey back down south, with the thoughts of the game rattling
around my fuzzy head. Often, I would have shouted myself hoarse and by the time
I got home I would be absolutely shattered, but I'd still be unable to resist
the lure of Match of the Day, savouring the chance to go over and analyse what
I'd seen that afternoon. Gary Speed's goal against Derby to make it 3-0. Those
moments.
The away days were a different
proposition altogether; it was like being let off the leash. As a supporter,
many such trips were the best of days, I even had the added luxury that at
times, I didn't have to travel as far. So whether it was getting off early at
West Brompton tube to go for drinks before a Chelsea fixture, invading the
pitch dressed as a banana on a final day trip to Highfield Road, or the short
trek from the retail park in Northampton to get to Sixfields, twice in one
week. Those away days, and so many more were ace, and I walked to every one of
them.
But times are changing for me. The
spontaneity of the walk to the game is no longer a viable option; there are no
more pub crawls or relying on public transport to hop on and off of.
Practicality dictates my plans these days. Every home game, I try to get to the
Wesley Street car park early and secure a spot as close to the bottom as
possible, just so I can get to my seats in the East Stand quickly, and in the
fewest number of steps possible.
These days I also find myself the
mentor. I'm a Daddy and I have my girls looking up to me as the one to tell
them all that’s going on at the football. I'm the man, apparently. I've always
been a big advocate on social media about getting young ones to football
regardless of club, so to abandon Elland Road would go against everything I
feel and stand for. Nevertheless, I do travel there now in the knowledge that
my match day experience can no longer be what it once was.
In truth, I wasn't the first to
notice the profound effect my muscular dystrophy was beginning to exert upon
me, it was my eight year old daughter, Olivia. It was earlier this year when
Huddersfield were the visitors; for many it was a game that evokes fond
memories, a five goal victory representing a high point in a largely desperate
season. Olivia was very much of the same mind; as the goals flew in, she was
going crazy, absolutely loving it. Up and down she was, singing and dancing - a
fantastic sight to behold.
Then, after Mowatt's goal, the
fifth for Leeds, she turned to me and said:
"Five goals, Dad…and you
haven't stood up once! You've always said Leeds fans stand and sing, they never
sit down!”
The fact of the matter was, I
simply wasn't physically able to do so. I felt that all the energy I had, I
needed to preserve, just for our walk back to Wesley Street. Olivia’s
comments…they were not something I reacted to on the day, but those words have
since gotten under my skin, have kept me thinking and ultimately stiffened my
resolve to remain determined and persistent, regardless of my circumstances.
Sadly, I have to accept that those
cherished away days are something that I must now almost totally consign to the
past. I cannot predict that other grounds will have handrails en route to the
seats, or something for me to lean on - simple things like that. Not every club
has such an accommodating disabled liaison officer as Leeds United do either. I
have still had a few away trips in recent times, thanks entirely to friends and
contacts at other clubs knowing about my condition, but the undeniable fact for
me is that climbing steps is just no longer a practical option. Abandoning
Elland Road however, that remains out of the question.
I refer to my own condition as 'My
Muscular Dystrophy’, because from what I've seen, many other people with the
same condition have been affected in far more debilitating ways, so a lot of
the time I actually feel extremely fortunate. While I have no idea what the future
holds, what I do know is that right now, I have an opportunity, a chance to
raise awareness of this condition for younger families, and in turn, raise some
funds for vital research.
Between the 24th and 30th August,
people all over the UK will be volunteering and fundraising as part of the
‘Move a Mile for Muscles’ campaign; those involved will be doing so in a
multitude of different ways, whether swimming, juggling, rowing or whatever
else they should choose.
Inspired as I am by my daughter’s
words, to not give up on watching Leeds United, I only felt it appropriate that
my own challenge should represent that. So for one day, I plan to abandon the
relative comfort of the short journey from Wesley Street to the East Stand and
instead, walk a mile to Elland Road, to watch my beloved Leeds United, and I
want to embark on that trek with as many of my friends and fellow fans as
possible.
it takes 200 muscles to take one
step, what if those muscles are deteriorating or maybe not there at all any
more? I can hardly walk 10 steps without feeling the pain immediately. The fear
of falling, fatigue and burning I feel in my thighs, hips and lower back is
indescribable and there will be so many messages from my body telling me to
stop... I won't.
This will be my marathon, my Iron
man, my Mile for Muscles.
I really would appreciate it if
you could do this with me… Marching On Together!
You can read my JG page and donate here
Join us at Holbeck Moor park, 12:45, Saturday 30th August. One mile walk to Billy’s statue, Elland Road.
You can read my blog at http://martinhywood.blogspot.co.uk/ also you can follow me @HywoodMartin and The Muscular Dystrophy Campaign @TargetMD on Twitter.
