Steelers’ staff put in the hard yards for great cause

David Simms, Neil Edwards and Elliott Hall began their gruelling trek from just outside Birmingham on Wednesday heading north in the durection of their destination, the Motorpoint Arena in aid of Weston Park Cancer Charity.

The walk will take just over three days and the trio will be at the Arena in time for the club’s potential Elite League title-deciding game against Cardiff Devils.

The money is being donated to Weston Park partly because they have treating avid Steelers fan Amy Usher, who the club took to its heart last season.

Amy was found to be suffering from a rare form of throat cancer and was being cared for at Weston Park, inspiring the three walkers – joined off and on by supporters and friends throughout their trek - to undertake their challenge.

Sadly, on the second day of the walk, tragic news came through that Amy had sadly passed away peacefully.

On hearing the news, the trio took time out from their efforts to record a brief video message to update followers of their walk.

Steelers media manager Simms said: “It’s a bad day, a sad day. It’s horrible when something like this happens and all our thoughts go to her mum and dad and her sister Beth.

“We think of all the good times we shared with Amy and all the good that she’s given us - we wouldn’t be doing this walk if we’d never met the girl.

“But also, we wouldn’t have laughed as much and smiled as much without having met her and we thank her for that.

“We understand that she went very peacefully and fair play to all the doctors and nurses who were with her right up until the very end at West Park.”

So far, the mammoth walk has raised more than £17,000 with the £10,000 target long having been passed.

For anyone wishing to donate to the cause go HERE for details of how.

There will be further fund-raising effort on Sunday when more than 200 fans, staff and players will take part in the SSSC “5 Weirs Walk” starting from Ice Sheffield at 10am

Funds raised will be donated to the Purple Butterfly Rooms, Weston Park Cancer Charity and the SSSC.

You can follow progress of the walk via Twitter on @Simmsey_Friends