Two Burnley FC in the Community staff members, Gwilym Jones (Primary and Secondary Schools Engagement Manager) and Michael Colquhoun (Head of Community Welfare and Inclusion) will again take on another charity cycle, this time from Turf Moor to Glentoran FC in Belfast, to raise money for the Alzheimer’s Society and BFCitC in May 2022.

Burnley legend Jimmy McIlroy suffered with Dementia in his later life before his passing in 2018, as have several other Burnley FC ex-players.

Gwilym and Michael want to raise awareness of the disease through taking on the cycle challenge, whilst raising money for the Alzheimer’s Society and BFCitC’s own community programme the ‘Dementia Café’ which offers a safe and welcoming space for those living with Dementia.

Burnley FC have supported the Alzheimer’s Society throughout this season, including through sales of their third kit launched earlier this campaign, and the charity sponsoring the first-team playing kit in their League Club fixture with Rochdale in September.

McIlroy started his career with Glentoran FC and this will be the destination for the cycle, where the pair will link up with Glentoran Club staff upon arrival at The Oval.

In May 2021, both Gwilym and Michael cycled from Turf Moor to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, raising over £2,000 in the process for three different charities, a fantastic effort.

And they are set to get back on the saddle and do it all again for a great cause!

The cycle is approximately 270 miles and will take around three days to complete. The route will take them through Wales, Republic of Ireland and into Northern Ireland.

Training is well underway for Gwilym and Michael to make sure they’re ready to take on this huge challenge, so please show your support and donate!

Burnley FC in the Community

Our work is channelled into key areas including, Education & Employability, Community Welfare & Inclusion, Football Development and Community Facilities. Our team now deliver over 50 community projects that touch the lives of a huge spectrum of people in and around Burnley.

Though we are embedded within the ethos of Burnley FC, we are financially independent from the Football Club. We rely on fundraising activities, donations, sponsorships, and grants to do the work we do and every penny we raise goes to developing new opportunities for those who need it most.

Our Dementia café provides a safe, comfortable, and supportive environment where people with dementia and their carers can come together and share experiences. As well as the great activities our café offers, it also gives carers and people with dementia a chance to get information, advice and talk to others in a similar situation.

Alzheimer’s Society

Alzheimer’s Society is here for anyone affected by dementia and their families.

For support or advice, you can call their Dementia Connect support line on 0333 150 3456.

About Alzheimer’s Society:

• To find out more and donate to Alzheimer’s Society’s Sport United Against Dementia, visit alzheimers.org.uk/SUAD

• For up to date information, services and practical advice, please visit alzheimers.org.uk

• Alzheimer's Society is the UK's leading dementia charity. We provide information and support, fund research, campaign to improve care and create lasting change for people affected by dementia in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

• Dementia deaths are rising year on year and 225,000 will develop dementia this year - that’s one every three minutes.

• The total cost of care for people with dementia in the UK is £34.7 billion. This is the equivalent of more than £40,000 per person with dementia.

• Alzheimer’s Society funds research into the cause, care, cure, and prevention of all types of dementia. This includes a £50 million investment in the UK's first dedicated Dementia Research Institute.

Our pages are split so you can donate to the Charity of your choice.