'Bobsled' team in charity walk to football clubs

A "bobsled" team is to walk 20 miles between football clubs in Birmingham and the Black Country to raise money for charity - and all in time for kick-off.

Dana Power, who has raised more than £100,000 for charity over 15 years through various challenges, will be dressed in a dragon costume for the fundraiser in aid of the Stroke Association on Saturday.

"Hopefully it won't be as hot as it was last week," he told the BBC.

Members of the fundraising team from Wolverhampton, who usually wear Jamaican bobsled costumes in honour of the Cool Runnings film, will start at Birmingham City FC and have allowed seven hours to walk between four other clubs.

"We're doing Blues, Villa, West Brom, Walsall, and another club I can't remember the name of," the Shrewsbury Town fan from Bridgnorth joked.

"I think they play in black and gold."

One of the group has a ticket for the Wolves game against Brighton, so they have a deadline of completing the challenge in time for kick-off at 15:00 BST.

Mr Power said he aims to do a fundraising challenge each year and fancied something "a bit different" for 2025.

Last year, he helped raise almost £7,000 for Severn Hospice when he and the bobsled team walked up Yr Wyddfa, also known as Snowdon, again in fancy dress.

The runner, who's supported by Bridgnorth Endowed School, is hoping he does not run out of puff while wearing his signature Puff the Magic Dragon costume.

The rest of the group dressed as Mr Blobby, Donald Duck, Sylvester, Batman, Mickey and Minnie Mouse and are also set to carry their bobsled between the grounds.

This year they have chosen to support the Stroke Association.

"It's a personal thing," Mr Power said. "I lost two friends to strokes last year."

The group has already raised about £2,500 and has set themselves the target of £10,000.