14 April 2024 , 19:55
847
0
The Liverpool fan running from Anfield to London in support of a “Hillsborough Law” has been joined by a Grenfell campaigner.
Michael Parkin, 52, set off on his 227-mile mission from the stadium on Saturday, ahead of today’s 35th anniversary of the disaster in which 97 of his fellow supporters died. And on yesterday’s second leg from Manchester to Hillsborough, the Grenfell Foundation’s Kwasi Frempong, 42, was with him for every step.
Before they left, Kwasi read out all 72 names of those who died in the 2017 fire. It was an emotional moment, as it was for Mik’s fellow runner on Saturday’s opening leg, Manny Ruiz. Manny’s 12-year-old niece Jessica Urbano Ramirez lost her life in the West London blaze nearly seven years ago.
Mik is running 227 miles from Anfield to the Grenfell Tower backing a campaign calling for a “Hillsborough Law” (PA)Leeds-based Mik is calling for the Public Authority (Accountability Bill), know as the Hillsborough Law. It would impose a legal duty on public authorities and officials to proactively co-operate with inquiries into disasters and scandals. He was given a warm send-off on his eight-day mission by Liverpool metro mayor Steve Rotheram, Manchester mayor Andy Burnham and Ian Byrne, MP for Liverpool West Derby. Mr Byrne said the proposed law would be about “restoring the scales of justice”.
Mik cited the long-running fights for justice victims have endured after the Manchester Arena bombing and the Post Office Horizon IT scandal. He added: “You don’t expect anything like this and your life turns upside down. Not only will it reduce that anguish of getting the truth, it also means when you have the truth, you can change.”
Firefighters who saved lives at Grenfell Tower diagnosed with terminal cancer
Mik has already hit his £2,270 fundraising goal for the Grenfell Foundation and charity Mind. If you would like to donate, visit the fundraiser here.