Manchester volunteer walks the walk for the homeless

Marc Frobisher, a volunteer at The Mustard Tree charity in Manchester’s Northern Quarter, has raised over £600 to help its emergency food parcel provision service to continue into 2013.

The walk began in Berwick upon Tweed on Sunday 1 April, exactly four years to the day since Marc began volunteering with the charity.

The date also held further significance, as it marked 21 months of sobriety after a long battle with alcohol addiction.

The journey covered the Northumberland Coast Path, Hadrian’s Wall and the Pennine Way, and was completed on Monday 16 April when Marc arrived at the doors of The Mustard Tree centre on Oldham Road.

Marc, who admits to suffering from motivational issues, said the most significant moment of the walk was setting off on the first day.

“When I was travelling on the coach to Newcastle, and then by train to Berwick upon Tweed, I just wanted to turn around, go home and go to the pub.”

“To get up, start walking for those first few hours and experience the discomforts of the rucksack and where to put my maps, that was the biggest achievement. Everything just seemed to follow naturally from there.”

The challenge did not pass by without incident, with Marc getting lost on Monday 8 April as he walked over Cross Fell.

Mountain Rescue had to be called after misty conditions led Marc in the wrong direction as he ascended the hill, which is the highest point in England outside of the Lake District.

Since completing his journey, Marc has turned his attentions to a new project, in order to remain focused on keeping himself sober.

He wants supermarkets in Manchester to hand over their unsold, fresh produce at the end of the day, in order for The Mustard Tree to distribute the free food to their clients.

“As a person who is in recovery, it’s important for me to keep busy and occupied. I don’t know how it’s going to start, but I’ve got lots of confidence now.”

Marc is planning another sponsored event in 2013, to row along canals and camp in vicarage gardens at churches all over the country.

Donations for the walk are still being accepted at his JustGiving page, with a target of £1000 set.

Lee Nicholls donated money after seeing an article about Marc in the paper. He wrote: “More than 25 years since school. Think what you’re doing is fantastic.”

A donation of £100 was made by Jay Davies, who wrote: “Saw this in M.E.N. Good Luck & Happy Easter Marc. Well done for beating your addiction.”

By Mark Cockroft