Chris Porter's "Around the Grounds" challenge raises £30,000 for The Benevolent

By Richard Siddle

Published: 28 May, 2014

Chris Porter, chairman of the Benevolent, hopes to have raised £30,000 for the drinks charity by successfully completing his "Around the Grounds" challenge to visit every one of the 91 football league grounds in the country across a two week period.

Chris Porter Around the Grounds challenge Chris Porter Around the Grounds challengeChris Porter, chairman of the Benevolent, is greeted by chief executive, David Cox, at the end of his Around the Grounds challenge at Crystal Palace football ground where club sponsors, Farr Vintners, doubled his fund raising efforts for a combined £30,000.

Porter was able to personally raise £13,500 for his efforts which saw him travel to every football ground by a combination of either bike, train or tram. But the figure has been doubled by the kind support of Farr Vintners and with more donations still to come in, backed up by Gift Aid, the overall figure should be £30,000.

Porter's mission appropriately ended last Sunday at a special reception held at Crystal Palace football club which is sponsored by Farr Vintners and where its founder, Steven Browett is its co-owner.

Porter, who by day is also director of the Porter & Laker division of logistics company, JF Hillebrand, set on his journey on May 12 from Carrow Road, home of Norwich Football Club.

Looking back on his trip Porter reflected on the many highs of his journey. "The highs so outweigh the low. The words of encouragement from friends, family and colleagues, to the many complete strangers who I have met, who have since become part of the life of this challenge.

"They re-affirmed my belief that there is a lot of good will and charitable spirit out there and what can be achieved just by talking to each other and finding a way through life together. It seems to me to be a far better way than most of the alternatives.

"My ultimate high point has to be raising £13,500 on my Just Giving page which Farr Vintners has been generous enough to offer to double. After Gift Aid and one or two more donations still to come in, the challenge will have raised £30k."

As for low points Porter points to the "pouring rain and getting lost on my way to Wycombe" and "not being able to meet up with CyT at Oxford on the last night thanks to a tree on the line between Coventry & Oxford".

Porter added: "I am incredibly proud and delighted that we have raised three times the target on behalf of the Benevolent."

You can share Porter's highs and lows throughout his journey by reading the special blog he wrote throughout the trip where it is still possible to make a donation. Go to http://aroundthegrounds2014.com/

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