York dad Sid Gornall in 20 miles 20 pubs fundraiser

Sid Gornall, from Holgate, hopes up to 30 people will join him on the route around 20 pubs in the south of York today (Saturday, September 21).

He aims to raise £1,000 for mitochondrial disease charity The Lily Foundation through today’s sponsored walk.

As The Press reported, Sid’s son Bill, 12, was diagnosed with mitochondrial disease MELAS in 2020, a rare disorder that begins in childhood and mostly affects the nervous system and muscles.

Bill and Sid Gornall (Image: Supplied)

The degenerative condition affects the mitochondria in cells that provide 90 per cent of the energy for them to perform properly. If the mitochondria cannot produce energy for the cell, it dies and the organ the cell is supporting can fail.

Sid explained that Bill, who is in Year 8 at Manor CE School, has a powered wheelchair which supports him, as he struggles to walk any distance.

Bill Gornall in his new powered wheelchair (Image: Supplied)

“He’s doing good,” said Sid of his son. “He’s been able to access everything he needs to at the moment.”

Sid, a project manager at events company Frame and Tailor, spoke to The Press at The Fox in Holgate before setting off with the other walkers at 11am.

The Fox in Holgate where the group set off from on Saturday morning (Image: Supplied)

“It’s a challenge but it’s accessible,” he said of the route, adding that he hopes to cross the finish line back at The Fox at 9pm tonight.

Pubs have agreed to put collection boxes on the bar or to donate takings to the group.

'We want to grow this and grow awareness'

Sid, who last year won Charity Fundraiser of the Year at The Press' Community Pride Awards, said the idea of the fundraiser stemmed from his uncle Bob who has organised similar walking challenges around pubs in Longridge, near Preston.

“It’s something I’ve grown up doing,” he said, explaining that the last one he took part in had around 600 participants. “I’ve been doing it since the nineties.

Sid Gornall being presented with his Community Pride Award (Image: Simon Godley) “I had the idea to bring it to York to raise money for The Lily Foundation."

Sid said a key goal of the challenge is to raise awareness of mitochondrial disease.

Sid Gornall (Image: Supplied)

“We want to grow this and grow awareness,” he explained.

Sid thanked all the pubs taking part in the challenge, saying: “We have contacted them all and they’re happy to take part.”

Recommended reading:

• York dad in epic challenges after son's rare disease diagnosis
• 'He's an inspiration!' 11-year-old York schoolboy battles rare condition
• 'You can have a drink in every pub, or none at all' - York first of a kind pub crawl

Today’s challenge is part of Sid’s year of fundraising which he hopes will raise £50,000 to help in the fight against mitochondrial disease.

Next month he will be jetting off to the USA to run the Chicago Marathon for an American mitochondrial charity.

To support Sid, visit his JustGiving Page: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/TeamBillforlily