Oxford News
Oxford United fan walks five marathons to final Championship game
Neil McManus, from Drayton, was diagnosed with bladder cancer at the end of 2024.
Since turning cancer-free, the 47-year-old chose to take on the mammoth task of walking from Oxford’s Kassam Stadium to Millwall’s The Den in London.
This has been a 125-mile walk in just five days along the Thames Path, which is the equivalent of five consecutive marathons.
DONATE HERE: Neil McManus walks five marathons for charity
5 marathons. 5 days.
One of our own, Neil McManus, is walking from the Kassam Stadium to Millwall for our final game, raising funds for Fight Bladder Cancer!
Donate now.
— Oxford United (@OUFCOfficial) April 28, 2026
Neil said: “On 23 December 2024, I received news that stopped me in my tracks: I had been diagnosed with bladder cancer.
“It came as a huge shock. Like many people, I’d never really thought about bladder cancer or recognised the symptoms for what they were.
“Thankfully, it was caught early, and after successful treatment, I received a clean bill of health at my one‑year cystoscopy in January this year.
“With a bit of luck, I won’t need to see my consultant again for another 12 months.
“As I step into 2026, I want to turn that experience into something positive.
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“I’m raising awareness and funds for Fight Bladder Cancer—an incredible charity that supports those living with the disease and works tirelessly to educate people about the signs and symptoms, so more cancers can be caught early, just like mine was.”
The Chinnor-based charity Fight Bladder Cancer provides help for patients and their loved ones, works to increase public awareness of the disease and lobbies for better research.
“[They] reached out to me when I was diagnosed,” Neil told the BBC.
“I wanted to do something for them to coincide with the end of the season. Last year, Oxford United were at Swansea, though, and I wasn’t sure if I could walk quite that far.”
Completing the walk today, Neil has managed to raise a whopping £7,769 so far from 191 donors.
The Yellows head over to the capital already relegated following results last weekend, despite a thumping 4-1 win over Sheffield Wednesday last time out.