Brickies banking on a chain reaction from fans

Fans of Sittingbourne FC and Walton & Hersham have a chance to take part in an on-going attempt to create the longest chain of football scarves, shirts and flags in the world when they meet in Ryman South on Saturday to boost the battle against a rare disease.

As well as awareness, supporters of the Burscough-based Alfie Lund Fund have raised more than £20,000 over the last two years for seven-year-old Alphie Lund who sufferers from MECP2 Duplication syndrome which means he cannot walk or talk and has profound and complex learning difficulties.

He is one of only a handful of children in the UK and approximately 120 in the world suffering from the condition and earlier this season, his family and supporters set themselves the challenge to raise the profile of UK charity Mecp2 Duplication by winning a place in the Guinness Book of World Records.

The chain is now more than two miles long thanks to the efforts of fans at Non-League clubs up and down the country who've already hosted events and Mark Lund, Alphie's father, is making the 400 mile round trip to Kent to collect a shirt and scarf donated by the Brickies. Enough of the chain to surround the pitch at Woodstock Park is also on its way to inspire even more supporters on the day.

Urging fans to lend their support either online or in person, Sittingbourne secretary Peter Pitts said: "The pitch will be surrounded with scarfs to raise awareness and we want fans to come down and be part of something special. They can also add Alfie’s page their likes to show support and share it with their friends and families."

The record-breaking attempt heads to Conference side Southport next on March 7.

To donate contact visit: www.facebook.com/thealfielundfund or e-mail: thealfielundfund@live.co.uk.

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