Australia-based Evertonian Tony Wright is among a large number of Blues not allowing logistics to prevent them from participating in Sunday’s ‘If You Know Your History' fundraising 5k run - with the lifelong fan taking part nearly 10,000 miles away in Queensland.
The Everton-themed event, which gets under way at Prince Rupert’s Lock-Up Tower and winds its way to a finish at Goodison Park, will generate funds for The People’s Place – Everton in the Community’s proposed purpose-built mental health facility close to the Club’s 129-year-old Goodison home.
Wright is taking advantage of the opportunity to join in a virtual run, which enables fans from across the globe to complete 5k where and when they choose.
The 68-year-old is originally from Bootle and attended his first Everton game in 1959.
“I have been in Australia 21 years but I stay in touch with everything happening at Everton and across all Everton in the Community’s fantastic work,” Wright told evertonfc.com.
“The People’s Place is a tremendous project and when I heard about the 5k – my wife’s family in Bootle are predominantly Blues and they are taking part – I wanted to get involved.
“I am out in my Everton top doing a 5k park run most Saturday mornings over here, so it made sense to join this If You Know Your History event.
“It is vital the community support these initiatives and I am glad I can do my bit from Australia.”
Wright has struck up a friendship with fellow ex-pat and Everton 1966 FA Cup final hero Mike Trebilcock and is an assistant coach at Gold Coast Premier League team Burleigh Heads.
His family at home in Bootle will be on the 5k start line – along with legendary Everton pair Joe Royle and Duncan Ferguson – this weekend.
Entry for the virtual run costs £25, which includes race participation and a commemorative T-shirt and finisher's medal sent in the post. Enter the virtual run via the BTR website.
Standard entry costs £20 and includes race participation, a commemorative T-shirt and finisher’s medal.
Competitors are encouraged to fundraise with all money going to The People’s Place, which will see EitC develop a delivery site for the charity’s existing mental health programmes and enable signposting to other services.
>>>THERE IS STILL TIME TO ENTER. CLICK HERE TO TAKE PART IN THE IF YOU KNOW YOUR HISTORY 5K<<<
Anyone who raises more than £50 for The People’s Place will be entered into a prize draw to win a pair of Goodison Park stadium tour tickets or a signed Everton shirt.
You can set up your fundraising page today by visiting https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/peoplesplace and clicking ‘start fundraising’.
