- Former Southampton star Francis Benali visited London Stadium during Benali's Big Race
- Benali attempting to raise £1 million for Cancer Research UK
- One-time defender ran and cycled to 44 Premier League and Championship grounds
West Ham United welcomed fundraising champion and former Southampton star Francis Benali to London Stadium.
Joined by long-time teammate Matt Le Tissier, Benali ran to the Hammers’ new home as part of Benali’s Big Race, a challenge which saw the one-time Saints full-back run and cycle all 44 Premier League and Championship grounds in the space of 15 days.
The Big Race saw the 47-year-old brave wind, rain and sore muscles to cover 1,500 miles to raise £1million for Cancer Research UK, completing his journey at Southampton’s St Mary’s Stadium at the Saints’ Premier League fixture with Burnley on Sunday.
Prior to finishing his challenge, Benali spent a day running and pedalling between NINE Premier League and Championship stadia, starting out at White Hart Lane before visiting London Stadium, the Emirates, Stamford Bridge, Craven Cottage, Loftus Road, Griffin Park, Vicarage Road and ending at Reading’s Madejski Stadium.
“Two years ago, I ran to every Premier League stadium to raise money for Cancer Research UK and we managed to raise £265,000, which was an incredible amount of money to be able to hand over to the charity,” he told West Ham TV.
“I set a huge fundraising target of £1 million, so I felt I had some unfinished business and in the two years since the last challenge my father-in-law has been diagnosed with prostate cancer and we’ve lost two close family friends and another close friend of the family is currently undergoing her battle with cancer, so I felt I wanted to take on another challenge.
“We wanted to raise the bar by making it more grounds and more clubs and added the discipline of the bike to make it more interesting. The plan was to run a marathon every morning and then cycle at least 75 miles in the afternoon, so it’s been pretty intense.”
West Ham is a Club which has been hit hard by cancer historically, with the late, great Bobby Moore losing his life to bowel cancer in 1993, and young Australian Dylan Tombides being taken by the disease as recently as 2014.
“I don’t think there is anybody in the country whose life hasn’t been touched by cancer in some way, shape or form,” observed Benali, who was presented with a signed shirt by former Hammers striker Bobby Barnes. “So that’s why I’m doing what I can in my own unique way to raise funds to help the scientists find a cure for this awful disease.”
Benali was joined by his old friend Le Tissier on his visit to London Stadium, with the former England forward spending his 48th birthday running and cycling around the capital for the cause.
“It’s Matt’s birthday so it just goes to show his support for the cause and the charity that he has run around the capital to support the challenge,” he added.
“It’s always great to have him along and have a chat and it’s the first time the both of us have visited London Stadium, which was a nice experience as it’s an incredible place and a wonderful stadium.”
There is still time to make a donation to Benali’s Big Race and support Cancer Research UK at www.benalisbigrace.com.