Monday, June 9, 2014

Perfect ending for dog that joined Guisborough man for 800km of World Cup trek


Pete Johnston one of four England fans in 1966km Walk to the World Cup charity trek and will say goodbye to dog Jefferson at Estadio Beira-Rio





By Ben Hardy


A dog which joined a Teesside man on his World Cup trek will get his own “perfect ending” in Brazil before being reunited with his owner today.


The pooch joined Pete Johnston, 30, from Guisborough , who is one of four dedicated England fans walking 1966km for charity from Uruguay to Brazil in time for the World Cup.


The dog, dubbed Jefferson Ramsey Moore by the boys, was given his own England shirt as they thought he was a stray.


Jefferson has followed the lads for more than 800km since tagging along in Uruguay.


However, after seeing their story in a newspaper, owner Nacho got in touch and hitched a ride off a farmer from Uruguay to Brazil to be reunited with his six-year-old pet.


The Walk to the World Cup foursome, along with Jefferson, will be allowed their dream finish to their mammoth journey by entering the pitch at the Estadio Beira-Rio - a World Cup venue which translates as Riverside Stadium - where they will then say goodbye to the loyal companion.


Boro fan Pete said: “We met him in the street in Uruguay and he seemed friendly enough but he stank.


“He stayed with us and he got more involved and less and less smelly and gradually we fell in love with him and have become more and more attached.”


“It’s heartbreaking to say goodbye and probably the hardest part of the trip.


“He’s an incredible dog and has so much character; it’s the perfect ending to an incredible story.”


Pete and Jefferson, along with Adam Burns, Dave Bewick and Ben Olsen who all live in Australia, aim to raise £20,000 for the J de V Arts charity and set up a water well in Bahia, Brazil, which is suffering from one of the worst droughts in 50 years.


Pete, who went to Guisborough’s Laurence Jackson school, spoke highly of all of the people they have met along their journey.


He said: “The journey so far has been incredible, the people have been so welcoming and we have been gifted food, accommodation and even traditional clothing wherever we have travelled.”


He added: “There have been a few scary moments, most notably in the desert where we spent three days walking through 35-degree heat and were forced to sleep in abandoned train stations among snakes, spiders and curious foxes.”


The boys have almost raised £10,000 so far and have received messages of encouragement from former World Cup stars Alan Shearer, John Barnes and Jason McAteer.


To boost their fundraising efforts, Pete’s mum Dawn will have a stall at the King George V Playing Field Jubilee Event, Guisborough on Sunday, where visitors can win a signed Boro shirt, among other prizes.


You can donate by texting WTWC66 and the amount to 70070 or at http://ift.tt/1tesFND .


You can follow their progress on Facebook and on Twitter @walk2worldcup .



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