Hibs fan Davy to rerun walk to final for cancer charity

Hibs fan David Fulton who is walking from his home in Niddrie to Hampden this weekend. Picture: Greg Macvean

The 56-year-old motor mechanic from Niddrie, a lifelong Hibernian fan, will be walking every step of the way to the stadium for Sunday’s clash with Ross County.

He decided to undertake the 45-mile walk to raise money for Marie Curie after several people close to him were diagnosed with terminal cancer.

Davy did the same walk in 2013, when Hibs were in the Scottish Cup final, losing 3-0 to Celtic.

On that occasion, he had pledged to completing the journey in ten hours – and managed it in nine hours and 58 minutes. This time he is allowing himself 11 hours.

“It was the hardest thing I had ever done in my life,” he said.

The walk last time was to help with funeral costs for a friend who had died aged 45 of a heart attack.

“I loved it until the last 15 miles, which were just torture,” he said. “The old legs started to fold a wee bit. But there were people waving and peeping their horns – that’s what kept me going.

“I vowed I would never do it again, but I am going to do it one more time and raise as much as I can for Marie Curie because I’m amazed at how many people I speak to are touched by cancer.”

He said his Auntie Cathy, who is 73, is in the Western General after being told she has terminal cancer.

And his sister-in-law Cathy Geddes, 60, had been out shopping at Christmas when she collapsed and has now also been diagnosed with cancer.

“They have both been told they don’t have long to live,” said Davy.

“And last year my friend Arthur Todd died of cancer. His wife spoke so highly of what Marie Curie had done for Arthur, I decided I was going to go for it and get as much money as I can for them.

“They do a wonderful job of caring not only for the patient, but their families as well, in the short time they have left.”

Davy said he had only recently started training for his trek. “I did a walk on Sunday at 6am for two-and-a-half hours up Arthur’s Seat,” he said. “But I’ll be prepared. I’ll do it. It’s a good cause.”

He will set off from the Calder Road junction at 6am on Saturday and follow a route through East Calder, West Calder, Whitburn, Bellshill and on to Hampden, hoping to arrive around 5pm.

“Then I will have a large vodka and a good sleep before going to the final on Sunday,” he said.

He has set up a Just Giving page – www.justgiving.com/Daviefulton-hampdenonfoot – already raising around £1000.

He said: “I set a target of £10,000 which might be a wee bit ambitious, but I’m hoping a lot will come in on the last weekend.”

His daughter’s boyfriend, Ross Mason, will cycle alongside him with a supply of water to keep him hydrated.

Ross is a Hearts fan but is happy to help a good cause. Davy said: “It’s not a football thing.

“I’m taking advantage of Hibs getting to the final, but this is to help Marie Curie.”