'Always in our hearts' - Kind hearted and intrepid group take on Dublin challenge in memory of Black Country teenagers
A team of walkers will set off on a marathon mission a week on Saturday in memory of tragic Black Country teenagers Liberty Charris and Ben Corfield.
The Walk4Lib participants will set off from Oldbury and spend eight days walking to Dublin in Ireland, where one of the walkers will also take place in the city's marathon on Sunday October 26.
Liberty Charris, aged 16 and Ben Corfield, aged 19, both from Dudley, died when a hit a group of pedestrians on the A457 Birmingham Road and Oldbury Road in November 2022,
The car was taking part in an unofficial racing event when driver Dhiya Al Maamoury lost control, ploughing into the group - he was jailed for 13-and-a-half years at Wolverhampton Crown Court in November 2024.
Live4Lib was created in memory of Liberty to provide comfort, care and support to families who might have gone through similar tragedies or experiences with children up to the age of 18
Organisers say the Walk4Lib challenge has been set up to help publicise the charity, raise money through sponsorship and along the way and keep the deaths of Liberty and Ben in focus.
The team recently completed a practice walk last weekend, setting off from Oldbury at 7.30 AM and finishing in Bridgnorth which will replicate the first leg a week on Saturday. It also acted as an opportunity to bring supporters together ahead of the main challenge.
The walking will be done over seven days, an average of 20 miles each one for a total of 145 miles before the team catch the ferry to Dublin on Saturday October 25.
One of the trustees of the walk, James Challis from Brierley Hill Civic Hall said: "This will be no easy task in terms of organisation or the walkers who will be going through an endurance test every day.
"The trial run was a great success — a powerful show of endurance, teamwork, and community spirit — and a moving opportunity to bring supporters together ahead of the main challenge which will be a continual pattern of mainly 20 mile walks.
"Apart from the walkers - and we still need more of them - there has been a lot of people who have supported the event from businesses and community partners and we thank them sincerely. We have already raised over £1,000 with donations continuing to grow every day.
"They are all Black Country based and the spirit of the area is really shining through from them, the organisers of Walk4Lib and those involved in the parent charity with the stated aim of keeping Liberty and Ben in our thoughts and always in our hearts whilst helping other families."
For more details on Walk4Lib or to sign up or support, visit the website https://www.live4lib.co.uk/walk4lib/