Gooch, his partner & three friends will undertake the journey from St Bees on 17th September in Cumbria finishing in Robin Hood’s Bay in North Yorkshire on the 29th September.  Embarking on the 193-mile hike, the former England Captain is excited by this different approach as he attempts the gruelling 13-day challenge. The PCA Benevolent Fund is part of the PCA’s commitment to helping former & current players & their dependants in times of hardship & upheaval or to readjust to the world beyond the game. The charity provides support in a huge variety of ways, both reactively and increasingly proactively with a drive to help & educate PCA members on all health & wellbeing issues key in helping players to negate problems further down the line. 

Gooch has run his own Scholarship programme now for fifteen years under the umbrella of the Essex Cricket Foundation and is looking forward to the challenge this poses.

“We do like challenges and I think this is a different approach to raise some funds for two excellent causes. The walk averages just over 15 miles a day. In the Lake District the first five days will be tough because it’s very up and down".  

Gooch is encouraging day walkers to join him on the trail across the coast to support with raising funds.  

Gooch is hopeful that the funds raised will help the Benevolent Fund & his Scholarship continue their “great work.” 

“We want to raise money for all the great things the PCA supply for present players, past players & future cricketers,” he said. “I’ve seen first-hand what work goes into supporting these cricketers & to help this is something I’m very passionate about.”

Having previously played for the county for 24 years, Gooch’s Scholarship supports initiatives including the Essex Cricket Academy & sending young Essex players on overseas coaching & playing trips – trips that Alastair Cook, Ravi Bopara & James Foster have benefited from.