Pal Liam steps up to the Old Trafford challenge

STEPPING it up for charity . . . Liam O’Reilly climbs up and down every step in the ground

A DOBCROSS man has run up and down all 5,500 steps at Old Trafford in honour of his best friend, who lost his battle with cancer aged 40 .

Liam O’Reilly (38) took on the challenge to pay tribute to his Manchester United-mad best friend Richard Ashton, who died in March 2014 of thyroid cancer. Richard had recovered from the disease in 1997. It returned in 2005, 2006 and 2011, and each time was fought off.

After again being diagnosed in 2013, Richard looked on the road to recovery. But the diseaser returned and he died the following year.

While Richard believed he had fully recovered he set himself a challenge to sit on every seat in Old Trafford football ground. The stadium has alsmost 76,000 of them and Richard wanted to raise £1 for every seat he sat on.

In his final days the former season ticket holder turned to best pal Liam to take over the challenge.

Liam said: “Last year at Rick’s bedside in those final days he became more than a special friend, he became a hero to me.”

Liam, who met Richard when they were teenagers, took over the task but was told by the club he couldn’t carry on the challenge.

But United later announced an “Every Step” challenge - and LIam was accepted to join in

He completed all 5,500 steps - and as an added touch, Liam’s son Keiran (13) and Richard’s son Connor (13) turned up to offer their support.

Liam raised close to £500 for the Manchester United Foundation, of which the Christie hospital is a beneficiary.

Donate at www.justgiving.com/Liam-O-Reilly1