Belfast-man Tim Branagh is putting a personal twist on the well-known Northern Ireland Hospice Walks by planning a unique charity walking challenge of his own – a trek between local football stadiums, in memory of his sport-loving dad.
Tim’s father Austin Branagh passed away in September 2021 after being cared for by Northern Ireland Hospice in Somerton Road, and Tim wanted to give something back to the local charity. That’s when he came up with the idea of the fundraising challenge to walk to all six Belfast-based Irish League clubs of his dad’s lifetime of following Irish League Football.
The unique sponsored walk, in support of NI Hospice, takes place on Saturday 5th August and will start at the Maynard Sinclair Pavilion in Stormont. Austin played so much of his sport there for more than 30 years, in cricket, football and table tennis, and was also the Chairman of the Northern Ireland Civil Service Sports Association.
The walk then moves on to the Oval, Seaview, NI Hospice in Somerton Road, Solitude, Grosvenor Park (site) and Celtic Park (site), before finishing at Windsor Park. Some of the various clubs’ volunteers plan to walk a part of each subsequent leg with Tim.
Tim Branagh says: “My Dad, along with my Granda Grimason (both Ulsterville Avenue residents), were responsible for introducing me to following Irish League Football, a passion that I retain to this day as a season ticket holder at Linfield, nearly 60 years on.
“My Dad lifted me over at every Irish League ground in the country and I was lucky enough to see Martin O Neill playing for Distillery, Gerry Armstrong for Bangor, and Billy Hamilton for Linfield, amongst many other stars. I grew up with players such as Finlay and Jamison, Lennox and Savage, Scott and Pavis, Murray and Dickson, McAvoy and Mowat and my dad was with me through it all.
“Interestingly Dad supported Distillery, his brother my Uncle Billy supported Linfield and his Dad, my Granda Branagh supported Belfast Celtic! There was always some craic in that house on Saturday teatime!
“My Dad had prostate cancer and was cared for by the team in Hospice for around three weeks in September 2021. He initially only went in to work out a pain management plan, but the cancer had spread into his bones, so he remained there until he died on 21st September.”
Lauren Doherty, Interim Director of Commercial and Brand Development at NI Hospice, said: “This year we are celebrating 40 years of providing Hospice care in the local community and our Hospice Walks began then too; kick-starting public support for a dedicated hospice here.
“Since then, our Hospice Walks have become a meaningful and powerful tradition for our community and have brought together thousands of families to celebrate life and honour those who have received hospice care. We’re humbled that Tim has chosen to honour his father’s memory, hosting his own personal challenge walk and raising vital funds and awareness of our charity and the invaluable services it provides. We wish Tim the very best of luck!”
You can support Tim’s fundraising efforts via his JustGiving page at https://www.justgiving.com/page/tim-branagh-1688553385013