Marathon man great grandad to run home leg
AGREAT-GRANDAD who was to take part in the London Marathon will still tackle the 26-mile distance - by running round his house.
Harry Newton, 82, from Broken Cross, estimates he will complete 461 laps of his front and back garden on Sunday, April 26.
He will raise money for the NHS Charities Together as despite the London event being postponed he still wanted to run.
The Macclesfield Harrier has 20 marathons under his belt and last year took just under 5 hours 30 minutes to complete the route through the capital.
It was a real family occasion as also taking part were his son David Newton, 57, and grandson Andrew Newton, 30.
This year it will be quite a different experience though, with no famous landmarks or crowds cheering on the street to spur him on.
Harry, who lives on Meg Lane with wife Phyllis, said: “Hopefully some of the neighbours might cheer me on over the fence and I will have the London landmarks in mind.
“I know you pass the Cutty Sark after six miles or so and go through Canary Wharf after about 20. My wife thinks I’m absolutely daft but is always very supportive.
“I’m a pretty patient guy so I’ll be alright and hope to do it in under five and a half hours.”
Harry, who has one daughter, two sons, nine grandchildren and four great grandchildren, has qualified to run the last 16 London Marathons as he records a sufficiently fast time for his age.
He only took up running aged 57 and has been training for his latest challenge with a run every other day.
Planning ahead, he has even built a ramp over the step in his garden to make Sunday’s route easier.
Harry, a retired grocer and sub-post master, said: “When I saw that fella raise £25m I thought perhaps I could do something.
“Not that much but every little helps and of course the NHS is an amazing cause.
“It’s very difficult to explain why I love running, I just enjoy it.”
Captain Tom Moore, 99, made international headlines when raising millions by walking around his home with the aid of a frame.
Harry has set his target at a more modest £2,000 and is already more than half way there.
To sponsor him visit https:// uk. virginmoneygiving. com/ and search ‘ Harry Newton running a marathon around my garden’.