Celtic legend John Hartson is pulling on a different kind of boots this spring in memory of a close Celtic colleague.
The striking powerhouse became good friends with Marie Milne when he was a player and she worked on reception at Celtic Park.
Marie helped Hartson answer his fan mail and even baby sat for two of the striker’s children when he was away from home on international duty for Wales or abroad with Celtic.
As he was unveiled as the sixth man in a team led by Marie’s son Chris Mullen, 34, to walk the gruelling 96-mile-long West Highland Way in May, Hartson laughed: “I used to get one or two letters back then, not so many now.”
Marie died of COPD on November 30 2019 aged just 59 and since then Chris has been raising money for Chest, Heart and Stroke Scotland.
Last year he climbed Ben Nevis but this year he wanted to up the effort and called on Hartson, who he has known since he was a young lad, to help.
He said: “The COPD really did affect my mum and it affected her mentally because she had been so active.
“We have seen with Covid how many people with COPD have died so we really want to raise money to make a difference to people’s lives.”
Hartson is very supportive OF CHSS because in addition to Marie’s COPD, he has friends who have had strokes and, heartbreakingly, his own sister Hayley died from a heart attack in September.
Choking back tears Hartson said: “My sister was only 47. That was a tough one.
“We are all devastated. My parents will never get over it, losing their daughter.
“The money that we raise can go to help different diseases with technology and research which could help prevent more heart attacks, strokes and other conditions not just in Scotland but all over the world.
“It is heartbreaking to lose somebody to one of these diseases. You just never know what’s round the corner so I just want to do my bit to help my friend’s mother, whom I knew very well.”
He continued: “Marie was a lovely woman. She was a right character and she was a wonderful friend of mine personally.
“I remember her smile and her banter. She was so infectious and so funny, that Glasgow wit. She had an answer for everything but she was so kind, she would have done anything for the player. She loved the players and they loved her as well.
“She was there every morning in reception and was so welcoming to everyone.”
To achieve their aim of completing the walk in just five days they will have to put in around 20 miles every day and Hartson admits it will be a challenge, even though he has kept himself fit since retiring from the beautiful game and has climbed Ben Nevis six times for his charity the John Hartson Foundation, established after his own battle with testicular cancer which spread to his lungs and brain.
But he admitted the other members of the team - who are around 10-15 years his junior - may find it easier than him.
He said: “A year ago I had a knee replacement operation, I have about four or five operations on my knee, I have had two brain operations, I have had two lung operations but I’ll keep going. They might have to drag me over the line though.”
The team are also going to donate around 10 per cent of what they raise to the Scottish Ambulance Service at Hartson’s request.
The dad-of-five said when he was in hospital in Wales fighting for his life and needing an urgent brain operation, it was only because of the care of paramedics that he survived the journey between hospitals.
And in Scotland a couple of years ago he was at the mercy of the SAS when he had a golf buggy accident in Peebles and needed to be rushed to hospital to receive 48 stitches in the wound.
“The paramedics and ambulance drivers have to be first on the scene and they are so brave and so composed. They are miraculous people and I have total respect for what they do and the bravery they have shown.I don’t think they get enough credit.”
He admitted the walk would be “emotional” but enjoyable. He said: “I think it is a great thing to do. It finishes at Fort William where my in-laws live so I spent a lot of time in that neck of the woods.”
Allan Cowie, Director of Service Delivery at Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland, added: “What John, Chris and the team are doing will make such a huge difference to people’s lives. The money they raise will be helping people with COPD breathe better and spend more quality time with those they love.”
Donations can be made at gofundme.
