Dad launches marathon goal in thanks for charity’s help
A DAD wants to repay a charity which helped his little girl by running a marathon in its name.
Chris Worthington, from Hurdsfield, has already raised thousands of pounds for When You Wish Upon A Star, which supported his daughter Poppy’s battle with a brain tumour.
The lifelong Manchester City fan made headlines in 2013 when he was sponsored to have a Manchester United tattoo on his arm.
He followed that up by taking on the Manchester 10km in 2015 and his commitment to training saw him drop from 19 stone to 14 stone.
Now, Chris, 47, is upping the stakes to take on a 26 mile test at the Liverpool marathon.
Earlier this month, he ran a half marathon in Blackpool as part of the build up.
Chris said: “I felt great after Blackpool so I feel capable of taking on the marathon, which is probably going to be the best and worst thing I will ever do.
“My first and last marathon I reckon.
“I joked that I got the tattoo because I couldn’t run a marathon. Then I saw people were running marathons for the same charity I was supporting, and thought, I should do something like that.”
Chris has now lost a whopping six stone in weight through running.
He said: “I feel and look like a different person. I run every day if I can and feel annoyed if I don’t get out for some exercise. It’s such a change from what I was like before.
“By the time of the event it will have taken me almost two years of relentless training.
“My daughter Poppy has been given so much by this wonderful charity. I want to give something back to a charity that does so much for children.”
You can sponsor Chris at www.justgiving.com/ marsbartomarathon.