Forster running 500 miles for Mental Health UK

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Ex-striker approaching the end of his challenge.

Charlie Hanson

2023-07-12T12:54:00Z

Nick Forster scored an impressive 51 goals in 119 appearances for Albion.

Former Albion striker Nicky Forster has just two days left of his incredible 500-mile run to raise money for Mental Health UK.

The 49-year-old is on day 13 of his 15-day journey on foot of Scotland’s NC500 route – a 516-mile-long road – starting and ending at Inverness Castle.

The challenge has been incredibly tough for Nicky, but with the end in sight, he’s taking a lot of heart from people’s kind words and sponsorships.

“The first four or five days were horrendous,” Nicky said. “Each day I was thinking ‘I don’t know how I am going to get through today, let alone the next day!”

“But it’s been a case of simplifying, getting through the next day, the next part of the day, the morning, or the next 10km.

The 49-year-old will finish his challenge on Friday.

“I haven’t found that the motivation is the problem, it’s just the physicality of it. After about 40km each day your joints and just your body hurt, everything struggles.

“The things I thought I would struggle with, like my knees, have been ok, it’s been my ankles, the blisters, but I know it's all worth it for the cause - Mental Health UK does incredible work.

“The toughest part by a long way is the solitude. Especially when you’re out in the Highlands in the exposed parts. You can go 13, 14 miles between villages and they’re not main towns, they’re just a village and a church. So the isolation is really challenging.

“The support from people has been huge though, one of my sponsors is Paul Brooker who I was with during my time at Reading, but we both played for Brighton. A number of ex-players have commented on and sponsored what I am doing and I really appreciate their support.”

If you’d like to sponsor Nicky, please click here.