Growing nursery gives Blake the lift he needs

KEEP fit fanatic Joseph Dunrod has completed a 72-mile run for charity – supported by two bikeriding buddies.

Joseph, 31, who lives at Lindley, was joined by pals James Manhertz, 30, of Waterloo, and Matthew Wike, 28, of Marsh, on the two-day trek from Huddersfield to Blackpool to raise funds for Kirkwood Hospice at Dalton.

Joseph and Matthew both work as window cleaners while James is an HGV driver. The trio completed 37 miles on the first day, making an overnight stay in Blackburn, before completing the challenge and arriving in Blackpool the following afternoon – just in time to see a display by the RAF’s Red Arrows. “It felt like they were there just for us,” said Joseph, who is known by his nickname of Sparkie.

The friends have raised more than £360 so far for the hospice – with more donations expected to roll in. However, Joseph has raised more than £1,000 in total for good causes through his charity runs, which have included half-marathons for the Hollybank Trust in Mirfield and the Jane Tomlinson Appeal to support cancer charities.

Planning for the Blackpool run began about four months ago – after Joseph had recovered from fracturing his ankle and leg playing football last November. “I was on crutches over Christmas and got the pot off mid-January,” he said. “I’ve rebuilt my strength with the help of my friends.”

As well as completing halfmarathons, 10k and 5k runs, Joseph’s training regime consists of weight training, calisthenics and regular daily runs. He also takes part in Huddersfield’s Park Run at Greenhead Park.

To donate go to www. justgiving.com/fundraising/ Joe-Sparkie A HUDDERSFIELD nursery has expanded to accommodate children who cannot climb stairs.

Heatherfield Day Nursery, which is on Heatherfield Road in Marsh, has installed a stairlift for Blake Clayton-Smith, a three-year-old in its care who has cerebral palsy.

The nursery, which opened in 1988, has also converted its loft into another unit to be able to care for more children ahead of the government’s 30 hours’ free childcare scheme which begins this month.

Manager Jane Dyson said: “It’s a relief now that the work’s all finished.

“It means the children we currently have can access all the age groups, which are spread across different floors.

“Ahead of governmentfunded childcare launching, our register got so full that we had no room for new children coming in.

“It will make it a lot better for all the children.”

Parents, including Blake’s parents Ben Clayton-Smith and Emma Schofield, and staff at the nursery fundraised for a year to implement the new changes.

Jane added that the register for next year is almost full, but there are still spaces available for babies.