They say comedians are a rare breed, but my old Comedy Store chum Kevin Day proved to be rarer still — not just for his sharp wit, but for his extraordinary dedication to a vital cause. Kevin, who graced the Humourology Podcast as a guest, embarked on a challenge that left even the fittest footballers gasping for air (and probably reaching for a pie at halftime).
Last week, Kevin swapped punchlines for pedometers as he took on an epic 61.2-mile trek across London, visiting twelve football stadiums over three days. Starting at Tottenham Hotspur’s stadium and finishing at his beloved Selhurst Park, home of Crystal Palace, he walked the equivalent of three marathons, all in the name of fighting mitochondrial disease. To put this feat into perspective: that’s about as long as it feels waiting for a reply from the Wi-Fi help desk!
Kevin’s March of the Day was far from a walk in the park (or stadium). It was a powerful effort to raise awareness and funds for The Lily Foundation, a charity close to his heart, which works tirelessly to combat the devastating effects of mitochondrial disease. Mitochondrial disease (or “mito” for short) is a rare genetic disorder that affects the body’s ability to produce energy. It can impact anyone, at any age, and currently, there’s no cure. But thanks to The Lily Foundation, there’s hope — and Kevin marched right alongside them to help bring that hope to life.
I was honoured to be asked to support Kevin by our mutual friend, the legendary Mark Thomas (another one of us AFC Wimbledon die-hards and also a brilliant guest on the pod). AFC Wimbledon, ever the class act, went above and beyond, giving us full access to the stadium for this great cause. How often do you get to say you’ve been in the dressing room, the manager’s office, and on the pitch, all without picking up a yellow card?
Kevin, Mark, and I go way back to the days of the Comedy Store, where we were young, hungry, and absolutely convinced we’d never age (spoiler: we haven’t, just look at the photos!). We’ve performed on countless comedy bills together over the years, but this was something truly special — old friends coming together to support a cause that’s as serious as it gets, all while bringing a bit of levity to a difficult situation.
The day was filled with laughter, memories, and the reminder that in the face of a life-changing disease like mitochondrial disease, we all have a role to play. Whether it’s telling jokes, walking miles, or simply spreading the word, everyone can make a difference.
If you’d like to get involved, support Kevin, and help The Lily Foundation continue their life-saving work, here’s your chance to be part of something remarkable. You can donate via the link below — trust me, it’s a much better investment than that half-time pie.
A huge thank you to AFC Wimbledon for opening their doors (and their pitch!) for us, and to everyone who supported Kevin’s journey. Together, we’re helping The Lily Foundation fight mito, find hope, and create a future where every patient has access to the treatment and support they need.
So, let’s rally around Kevin and The Lily Foundation, because, as they say, life is a team sport. And this is one team we should all want to be on.
You can donate here: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/kevindaysmarchoftheday
See you next Tuesday.
Warmest,
Paul x
