Cheltenham Town legend to do a Wing Walk to raise money for local hospice
Mark Boyland is taking to the skies on Thursday, to fundraise for Katharine House Hospice
Last updated 24th May 2022
A former Cheltenham Town legend will be undertaking a new challenge this week - when he takes to the skies.
Mark Boyland, who scored 101 goals for the Robins over three stints between 1984 and 1992, will be doing a charity Wing Walk on Thursday (26th May 2022) whilst raising money for Katharine House Hospice.
The Banbury based hospice looked after Mark's wife Debbie, who passed away in June last year, after a battle with cancer.
Mark's told us that the "hospice was a brilliant place to be. You don't realise from the outside what goes on in these hospices. Without them, in the last few weeks of my wife's life, it would have been unbearable".
Despite the nerves building up to the big day, Mark says "to try raise awareness and money for the hospice, I felt I had to do something completely out my comfort zone - which this is".
The couple were together for 20 years, but got married at the hospice, not long before Debbie's death.
Mark says that the chaplain asked if there was anything Debbie would like to do with the time she had left, and Debbie said getting married was something she'd want.
With the time they had left together, Katharine House Hospice managed to arrange a wedding ceremony, with 20 of Mark and Debbie's close friends and family being able to attend their day.
"I thought if I could raise £1,000 that would be absolutely unbelievable"
Mark raised the target of £1000 not long after setting up a JustGiving page before increasing the target to £3,000 - something else he has already achieved before he undertakes the wing walk.
As well as Mark's charity event in the skies, Debbie's friends - who Mark says "loved her so much" have donated money to Katharine House to help keep their doors open and running.
Mark says he's really grateful for the support he's received already from friends, family, the local community and Cheltenham FC.
Is Mark planning on any more wing walks?
We asked Mark what comes next - he laughed and responded "I'll see how this one goes, and if I survive and enjoy it - who knows?".
You can view his fundraiser here