A GROUP of friends walked 39 miles in memory of a former Gazette sports reporter who died aged 39 of bowel cancer.

John Boyman, who was a reporter at the Gazette for more than a decade between 2004 and 2015, died of bowel cancer on September 30, 2021.

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The father-of-two worked for Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust at the time of his death, as head of public relations.

To mark what would have been John’s 40th birthday, five of his friends walked 39 miles – one year for every year of his life - between Chelsea and Aldershot football stadiums to raise money for two charities.

Chris Baker, Scott Baker, Gary Stock, Paul Brooks and Russel Brooks all knew John since the early 1990s when they attended Heath End School together in Farnham.

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They decided to raise money for two causes in memory of John – the Bobby Moore Fund and Bucket List Wishes, a charity which arranged a special day for John, his wife Helen, and their two sons Zac and Thom before he died.

So far, the friends have generated more than £2,800.

The walk began on August 20 at Stamford Bridge – the home of Chelsea Football Club – and ended at Aldershot Town FC, both of which were important to football fan John.

The group reached the end of their walk in time for Aldershot’s game against Bromley FC.

On their way, the friends tied a ribbon around a rose planted in memory of John at St Andrew’s Church in Frimley.

John’s parents, Anne and Martin Boyman, joined the group for the final few miles before they were met by friends and family at Aldershot football stadium.

Gary said: "The walk was important to me as I felt we had to do something in honour of John and in his memory as well as making sure Helen and his family know that he will always be in our thoughts. But also, it had to be challenging and probably something John would have said, ‘what on earth are you doing that for’.

“The hardest part for me though was around the half way mark and I could feel the blisters setting in. No matter how many plasters and tape I used, it was only downhill from there. So, to walk another 19 miles was like I was walking across hot coals, which was difficult.”

However, he said his teammate Paul got him through it, by reminding him of the pain John suffered before his death.

Gary said: “A few blisters and some aches and pains are nothing in comparison, and it just spurred me on and I knew then no matter what, I’d make it to the end.

“Having a great group of friends to do this walk with really helped and having friends and family joining us throughout the walk, and especially towards the end really helped as well."

You can still sponsor the group here.