Evening everyone,

I found this forum via the links page of the TAMB, where George Mackie of Football Heaven has kindly posted a message on my behalf. The Tap Shop site caught my eye straight away because, as I have explained in an e-mail to Ian Baird and Craig Boyle, my dad, Phil Whitworth, was a regular in the pub when he worked in Mid Calder around 1997-2000. I've been in myself a few times as well when I went up to visit him.

I don't know whether any of you will remember him, but he's a Scouser and a big Evertonian like me. I seem to recall that the then landlord once won several bets when, one evening, my dad walked out of the pub mid-pint with no warning -  *that* song (you know, the Liverpool one) had come over the speakers and the landlord successfully bet the disbelieving public that this was the reason he walked out!

However, it is me, rather than Whitworth Snr, who is asking for your help.

I am currently organising the All Points North Charity Challenge, which will take place on 25-26 July. The Challenge is an attempt to visit all 42 Scottish Football League grounds in 24 hours - starting at Berwick Rangers at 6pm on Sunday 25 July, we hope to arrive at Ross County 776 miles later before 6pm the following day.

We hope to raise £10,000 for the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association and the National Kidney Research Fund. Currently the total stands at just over £1,500 so we are well on the way with nearly 3 months to go.

Basically I am just trying to drum up as much publicity and support for our appeal as possible. Craig has suggested that I send a couple of our posters to Ian c/o the Tap Shop, so you regulars should hopefully see those on display in a couple of days.

However, we are still trying to attract sponsorship and donations from as far and wide as possible. So if any of you are able to help us out in any way at all, I would be delighted to hear from you.

All the details can be found at our website, http://www.scots42tour.co.uk. If you would like to get in touch, please e-mail me at mark@scots42tour.co.uk.

Many thanks for reading this and best wishes

Mark Whitworth.