A GROUP of hardy walkers has given the fund for Mossley’s Whit Friday brass band contest a four-figure boost.
10 people braved the cold, blustery wind to trek 12.4 miles from Mossley AFC’s Seel Park ground to Stalybridge Celtic’s Bower Fold, the Tameside Stadium – home of Curzon Ashton – and Ashton United’s Hurts Cross before returning for the Lilywhites’ Northern Premier League West Division match against Bootle on Saturday, April 5.
And their efforts have given the traditional contest, which this year takes place on Friday, June 13, a welcome push.
The contests remain on the calendar because of the time and effort put in by volunteers at each venue.
But each year they are at risk because of rising costs and lack of volunteers.
And for walk organiser Nicky Iqbal, the event dubbed ‘the greatest free show on Earth’ also helps keep Mossley AFC at the heart of the community.
She said: “The contest takes a significant amount of cost, with the planning, things that we have to pay for up front before we actually kind of get people in the doors.
“To keep the concerts going, to keep the tradition going, is really, really important.
“It’s probably one of the only free events and it embeds the whole town. It’s important to keep that community feel for individuals and families.
“Keeping the club in the heart of the community is also important because more and more we see match days, families coming in.
“However, Whit Friday is something that maybe also attracts a different demographic.
“There are people who’ve been coming to Whit Friday for decades and it means so much.
“We had some people over from Sandon House, which is nearby. Residents who’ve got dementia, who, they come back to the band contest, hear the music and remember immediately.
“So it is really important to keep those things going.”
After setting off bright and breezy – the weather at the time gave them little option – at 8.30am, the group was back at Seel Park for 1pm, where many of them jumped straight into their volunteer roles.
An initial online fundraising target of £750 was beaten, with extra donations taking the grand total past the £1,000 mark.
While out on their route – which was initially planned t take in Hyde United and Droylsden too – the group trekked along canal towpaths and other routes while decked out in Mossley kit and showing off flags.
They also took cash donations and gave match tickets to anyone who contributed.
And there was no putting their feet up when they got back as Nicky, normally found manning the programme hut, added: “I planned the route and would have liked to incorporate all of the clubs, Hyde United and Droylsden, but that was too far.
“One of the group was match day secretary for the Bootle game, one was doing the social media, one other was carrying out her roles and I did whatever I was asked!”