FOOTBALL freestyler, John Farnworth, is bringing his fancy footwork to Cirencester Leisure Centre next week as he prepares for the ultimate keepy-uppy challenge on Everest.

John from Preston will be running a coach clinic for five-11 year-olds in Cirencester next Tuesday in a bid to get youngsters involved in his challenge to juggle a football up to the base camp of Everest to raise money for the Alzheimer's Society.

David Allen from Brimscombe runs a children’s football coaching business, Kick-a-bout, in the Gloucestershire area, and will be bringing John to Cirencester. “We have worked with him before because he puts on magic shows with football. He contacted me to tell me about his challenge and to see if Kick-a-bout would like to get involved.

“I saw this as a great opportunity for children within the Gloucestershire area to be part of this world record attempt and to help John on his quest. The event in Cirencester is a football freestyle master class with John himself and we have children attending from all over the county from ages 5-11yrs.”

He added: “My nan had alzheimers and I was going to sponsor John anyway but this seemed like an ideal thing to get involved in.”

John, who sets off to Everest on February 22, was inspired to take up his challenge after losing his grandad to Vascular Dementia.

He explained: “I wanted to do something to help other people and families that suffer from the horrible disease of Dementia and Alzheimers. It was my Grandad that got me into football, but more importantly taught me important lessons in life that have enabled me to follow my dreams and never give up.”

  • There are a still spaces left on the afternoon sessions of the coach clinic in Cirencester. Contact david@kick-about.com if you would like to get involved.
  • To sponsor John on his Everest challenge contact justgiving.com/fundraising/everestfootball