Running Mayor for Blackburn with Darwen, Andrew Gardner, is raising awareness of the health benefits of everyday running.
His own running journey highlights how important running can be to support mental wellbeing. As well as raising awareness and sharing running tips, Andrew is now raising funds for a cause close to his family’s heart, with not just one – but three marathons this autumn.
Andrew, currently in Spain with his family, explains:
“In October I intend to run three marathons in three weeks to raise money for the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital Charity.
London – 3rd October
Manchester – 10th October
Yorkshire – 17th October
I don’t like autumn marathons because you have to train in the heat, and out here (Spain) it is brutal…
Currently, there is a curfew in Spain from 2am – 7am which means I have to start my longer training runs at 7am (I’d usually go at 5.30 to miss the heat). By 8am the sun is fully up and burning brightly so the run you can see in the photo was in serious heat and stung towards to end and that was the end of a 50 mile week.
I could coast the training and “get round” the three marathons but I refuse to, as in my mind that would disrespect the charity, the wonderful staff at Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital Charity and to a certain extent my daughter. They all work their backsides off so I have to, and the pain I need to go through is part of my payback to them all.
I hope you never need the kind of care we received, but be assured if you do, it is fantastic
How my daughter bounced back (and continues to bounce back) inspires me every day – the picture of her running is just a few weeks after finishing 28 sessions of Proton Beam Therapy at The Christie.
She takes 7-8 tablets 3 times day, has growth hormone injections daily and has to be very careful what she eats now and she will for the rest of her life, but she is still here and that is down to the wonderful people at the Children’s Hospital and The Christie.
I’m also going to be running the Manchester Half – which was cancelled but is now in September.
I’m proud to know a lot of people in BwD, and if everyone gave just £1 each it would make an enormous difference, so please give what you can.
I hope you never need the kind of care we received, but be assured if you do, it is fantastic and I could run a marathon a day for the rest of my life and never have truly repaid them.”