Skelmersdale United fans are embarking on a sponsored walk this weekend in aid of teenager Alfie Lund who suffers from a life limiting disorder.
MECP2 duplication syndrome is a rare life shortening illness that is characterized by severe intellectual disability and impaired motor ability. It is an X linked genetic disorder which mainly effects males.
It took Alfie, 16, nearly four years to get a full diagnosis, due to the rarity and complexity of the condition. Since then over 200 children have been diagnosed worldwide and research into the illness continues.
Skelmersdale take on AFC Blackpool at Burscough’s Community Stadium on Saturday, the final destination for the fundraisers. The Skelmersdale to Burscough walk will be the third the fans have done for young Alfie and the first since 2018 when they walked from Wigan Athletic’s DW Stadium to Burscough.
Alfie used to regularly attend Skem games, before the club lost their ground Stormy Corner and have been without a permanent home since. One of the family’s proudest moments was watching Alfie and his dad, Mark, lead the teams out in a famous 1-0 win over FC United Of Manchester in 2016.
Mark has fundraised tirelessly for his son over the last decade and was awarded with unsung hero title at the Non League Awards in 2016 for his fundraising through the local football community.
Said Mark: “It’s nice to be heading back to Stormy Corner. It’s been 10 years since we appealed to the football community and Skelmersdale made us at home.
“We made some amazing memories along the way and lots of iconic pictures come from it”.
Many people in the local community have also completed triathlons, marathons and skydives for The Alfie Lund Fund or MECP2 Duplication UK. Graham West, a close family friend has helped organise this Saturday’s walk.
The fundraising done for Alfie helps pay for specialist equipment, with some items costing thousands of pounds including a specially adapted bed and disability bike that have been vital to improve Alfie’s standard of living.
You can find out more about Alfie’s story here. Find out more about MECP2 Duplication Syndrome here.
