Poole | Posted on October 1st, 2026 | return to news

Anfield to Poole charity walk for two brothers

Robbie and Ashley Cowler will walk from the Shankly Gates at Anfield to the family home in Hamworthy to raise funds for their Dad’s treatment.

Two brothers from Poole are preparing to take on a 312-mile walk from Liverpool to their home in Hamworthy in a desperate bid to raise £360,000 for their dad’s cancer treatment.

For Robbie and Ashley Cowler, the journey will begin at a place that has been part of their family life for years — the Shankly Gates at Anfield.

The brothers, along with their dad Nigel, are lifelong Liverpool FC fans. Now, the famous words ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ have taken on a deeply personal meaning as Robbie and Ashley prepare to walk every mile for their dad.

Nigel Cowler, 51, is battling Stage 4 pancreatic cancer. According to his family, he has been told that without further treatment he could have as little as eight weeks.

The brothers will walk approximately 312 miles — the equivalent of around 12 marathons – as they make their way from Anfield back to Hamworthy.

Robbie said: “I’m not ready to lose my dad. If we have to walk 312 miles to give him a chance of more time, then that’s what we’ll do.”

For the family, the goal isn’t simply about raising money. It is about more birthdays, more Christmases, more family dinners and more memories together.

Nigel is a father of three and grandfather of four, with his partner Barbara supporting him throughout his treatment and the fundraising effort.

The family says they had hoped Nigel would be able to access a treatment programme in the US without the huge financial burden, but that programme closed following FDA approval of the drug, missing out only by a week. They say the treatment is not currently available through the NHS, leaving the family to turn to fundraising.

On 24 October, at the end of their journey, the family will be holding a charity night at the Hamworthy Lake Road Social Club.