Nine Friends to Honour Late RAF Veteran with Pilgrimage to LNER Stadium
In an act of remembrance and solidarity, nine men from Lincolnshire have decided to embark on a 44km pilgrimage to LNER Stadium, the home ground of Lincoln City Football Club. Their endeavour seeks to honour their late friend, David Pickwell, a former Royal Air Force veteran and firefighter, who tragically passed away at 37 in summer 2022.
Known chiefly as Dave or Picky, Mr Pickwell was treasured by his tight-knit circle of friends, who were rocked by his sudden and unexpected loss. He was not only an avid supporter of Lincoln City Football Club but also had a 'terrible tattoo' as a testament to this passion.
"Dave, unfortunately, as many young men do, chose to take his own life for reasons that will forever remain truly unknown and never understood. This page, along with what we are going to do next, is about celebrating him, turning our feeling of loss into something more positive and supporting others in similar positions - exactly what Dave would do for others."
Friend and organiser, Lenny Tyler, described Dave's philanthropic nature, including his notable donation of bone marrow.
The Planned Pilgrimage
The planned walk will commence from St Denny's Church in Sleaford before completing the journey at the LNER Stadium. Set for Saturday, October 14, the friends aim to raise funds for the Lincoln City Foundation and mental health charity, Mind.
"There's a mapped historical walk from Lincoln Cathedral to St Denny's Church, but we'll be doing it in reverse. Our friend who passed was from Sleaford and he was a season ticket holder at Lincoln, so we'll be going up to Lincoln Cathedral and then on to Sincil Bank, where the ground is. It's in memory of him so his name is there, but it's also about raising some money for charity."
Aside from raising funds for charity, Mr Tyler emphasised the importance of fostering camaraderie and open dialogue as an essential part of the endeavour. The walk is also seen as an opportunity for some candid conversations.
Fundraiser Progress and Gratitude
With a fundraising goal of £2,500, the friends have successfully managed to accumulate £955 from 56 supporters so far. The outpour of support wasn't limited just to the general public—charity heads also voiced their gratitude.
Grateful Acknowledgement from Mental Health Charity
Ian O'Reilly, the head of events fundraising at Mind, expressed his appreciation and best wishes for the friends, noting the importance of their support, especially in the current times of economic hardship and mental health challenges.
"It's a difficult time, with many of us now feeling the impact of the cost of living crisis on our mental health and wellbeing, especially those of us with existing mental health problems. Every donation that Mind receives allows us to campaign to improve services and provide information and support."