Good Morning everyone.

I think I've had an idea that could be huge, but I'll need a lot of help.

Just to introduce myself, my name is Andy and my Brother James and I have been Bulls season ticket holders for years. That doesn't sound special in itself except we travel from Newcastle to every game.

James has Downs Syndrome, and the Bulls are his love. In 2009 we completed 100 rounds of kickboxing on the Odsal field (my claim to fame is a Mr. Wayne Godwin broke my nose during it!!). During a long walk yesterday I had a eureka moment and ran it past James. We are going to walk from Whitley Bay to Odsal. It'll take a week and we need the Bulls on board. No-ones gonna talk us out of it, you can't stop a Bull when it's made up it's mind.

For those who think this next bit is ludicrous, please read the bit afterwards. This could raise the "other half million". All we need is 100,000 people thinking a lad with Downs Syndrome walking easily over 150 miles to try and save his beloved Rugby side is worthy of a fiver. Who wouldnt? Heaven's sake, people in his home town are doing just that, without a clue who the Bradford Bulls even are (Ive told them to hang on to thier fivers till we get this up and running). Our local landlord only knew they were a Rugby league outfit when he put the tele on so we could hear the somewhat "non-announcement".

Ive provisionally got Whitley Bay-Sunderland-'Boro-York-West Yorks (including Leeds and I AM being serious) as the route, ending at Odsal. We'll camp along the way. James is friends with a lot of Bulls players and I imagine they'd happily lend him some training gear for this.

Can we do it? It's why I told you about the 100 rounds. If youre still in doubt keying in James Lights Out Olsen to a well known file sharing site should get you footage of his honourary world title win (wKO3, v a 20 time world champ no less).

Hopefully I can get as many people behind this. The story of James's life is that with the right support, he is capable of achieving the impossible. If anyone sees a way they can help then Lord knows nows the time to come forward.

We walk for the Bulls, we're alright

I would happily donate £20 towards that.

I would even spend the full weekend walking with you.

i would certainly sponsor you for this.

Thank you. I'll speak with the club on how to best do this (someone from the club at every stage would be ideal) and will keep you posted. Out of all his achievements saving the Bradford Bulls would be his proudest!!

Might be worth setting up a Facebook page and offering a paypal option, just something to consider. I know a few people who have done similar things and it's an easy way to get the money in..

See, practical help like that is excactly what Im after, cheers.

Oh and if you raise 100k James gets a seat on the BOD! What a star. These are the stories the Banks don't care about!

I would definitely support this

Make sure that you have easy ways for people to pay money. Look into having a page on rlhttps://www.justgiving.com/rl for example. They also have text giving now on that site

The point I'm making is that most people will say to themselves 'Oh yeah, thats a good idea, I'll give to that'. But unless there is a very easy, quick and simple way to do so, then they'll often not get around to it.

Good luck

You could set up a JustGiving page aswell.
Then see if the club would give the Text donation number out at half time next week.

Im with you Paul cheers. Thanks bullboy as well, loads to consider. Apologies if this breaks any rules but you can all tweet advice like the above to @AROlsen1 (yes that is Odsal and I had to fight 75 rounds to get a face like that), or the star of the show himself @JameslightsoutO. @James2Odsal coming soon.

You could get Bullman and Bullboy to join you on the way, a couple of Cheerleaders never go a miss! and I'm sure some of our walking injured would join in, there are enough of them. Maybe some faces from the past as well. Stevo, Clarky and some of the other TV pundits to get plenty of press coverage. I'm sure you can think of others.

James and Stevo go way back so I'm sure thats a possibility. Was gonna make a comment about how cheerleaders might take my mind off the 150+ miles but then remembered how old some of ours are. We're doing a twitter appeal (anyone feel free to follow mine and RT) for players past and present to support this. Im a budding Boxing journalist so have some media links, again anyone feel free to take this to anyone when we get it all confirmed (and I repeat, this WILL happen).

Think the hardest bit would be getting people to the North East for the early stages. And if we think about it, getting attention and publicity here will be the hardest. Walking round 'fax, Leeds etc. will be the most fun part. Expecting first class banter followed by a donation or else....

Andy the trick will be to get the media involved before the event which will give it publicity. And as the film says "People will come"

Super idea, love it.
Am pretty sure that you have to be a registered charity to be on JustGiving. The Bulls are not a registered charity (not yet anyway). There must be other ways to collect money though - Paypal, etc.

Would there be mileage (sorry!) in splitting funds raised with various local Downs Syndrome support groups along the way? This might increase sponsorship significantly AND support a charity as well. Could also attract more media attention for both causes and prevent giving fatigue for what many outside of RL heartland may see as a purely commercial enterprise not worthy of public support.