Harvey Goodman has spent weeks playing football, rugby, wrestling and kickboxing while running in between – but he’s not the least bit tired.
The spunky seven-year-old has been on his feet to train for a 40-mile walk this weekend.
Harvey is walking from Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool to Old Trafford Football Stadium in Manchester to raise money for one of the largest children’s hospitals in the UK.
‘My cousin Zak is sick, and I want him to have all the help he can get,’ he told Metro.co.uk.
Zak is one of Harvey’s best friends. They’re inseparable, whether it be in their bedroom playing video games or out cheering on their favourite team, Manchester United FC.
‘He’s really sporty – we play football and rugby together – and sometimes we like to play on the (Nintendo Switch) together,’ Harvey said.
But Zak, also seven, was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer last June and has been undergoing chemo and radiotherapy at Alder Hey hospital since.
‘I was a bit sad,’ he said of learning of Zak’s illness.
His mother, Naiomi, 29, added: ‘We saw him a couple of weeks at a Man United game. We met up at the game and he was doing good.’
Hearing how Alder Hey staff have taken care of Zak is what inspired Harvey to do the trek, knowing what it would mean to raise £10,000 to help his cousin and other kids like him out.
And he’s already smashed his target, to say the least. Hitting way past the £20,000 mark yesterday.
‘I am really, really happy,’ he said of the money, adding that he’s ‘happy and excited’ to do the 40-mile hike.
Throwing on an Alder Hey t-shirt, Harvey kicked off the walk from the hospital to his school, Stockton Heath Primary in Warrington, on Saturday afternoon.
Today, he’ll be doing the second leg of the journey from Rope and Anchor, Altrincham, past the Vine in Sale and finally the finish line at Hotel Football.
But every step of the way, Harvey will never be alone.
‘We’ve got lots of support from Harvey’s school headteacher and a few of his class teachers are doing the full walk – they’ve committed to the full 40 miles,’ his mum, a sales director, said.
‘We’ve got some friends joining along the way,’ Naomi added. ‘It’s going to be a really good turnout – we need as much support as possible because 40 miles is a long way.’
More than 200 people are set to cheer Harvey on at the finishing line.
Harvey, however, isn’t the least bit intimidated by the walk ahead.
He trekked 16 miles last year through heavy rain and cold temperatures to raise thousands for his school, Stockton Heath Primary.
Naomi said: ‘Harvey did a walk last year for his primary school, too.
‘When he was six, he walked 16 miles from his primary school to Old Trafford and raised over £8,500 for his school playground.
‘And he did that with ease, to be fair, he ran to the finish line to greet all his friends.’
The thousands went towards resurfacing the astroturf pitch at his school, as well as building a mud kitchen, digging area, sand pit and hiding area.
‘Hopefully, he’s got the same energy this weekend,’ Naomi added, with Harvey giving an energetic, ‘yeah!’
For most people, walking a 40-miles would leave their legs wobbly – but Harvey certainly isn’t most people.
After he’s sped past the finishing line, Harvey says he plans to celebrate by dancing.
‘On Sunday at the end, we’re going to have a really big party and we’re going to have a DJ there,’ Harvey added. He’s not sure whether they’re having ice cream or cake just yet.
‘I’ll ask for Sea Shanty,’ he said, before beginning to sing the song by Home Free which went viral on TikTok in 2021, ‘and some other songs that I know.’
Harvey’s fundraiser can be found here.
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