Top cop in race bid to help Mark
SKELMERSDALE’S police chief took on one of the world’s most gruelling obstacle courses to help a toddler who has undergone a leg amputation.
Recently appointed Ch Insp Ian Jones, of Lancashire Constabulary, has returned from Atlanta, USA, where he completed the 24-hour obstacle course race, World’s Toughest Mudder,
He completed 65 miles of obstacles, coming 26th out of 1,500 qualifiers, placing him among the elite athletes.
He has spent the past 12 months putting himself through a gruelling schedule of marathons and tough mudders to raise money for the “March-4Mark” charity, having competed in numerous events over the past year, including a 106-mile run along the Leeds to Liverpool canal in 24 hours, Europe’s Toughest Mudder and the Liverpool Rock ’n’ Roll Marathon.
Ch Insp Jones said: “The main reason I do this is to raise money for charity. Each year, I choose a local charity to where I work or one that has helped a colleague.
“My fund for 2018 was for a little two-year-old boy, Mark Robinson, from Sefton, who was born with fibular hemimelia and now faces life as an amputee, after his leg was amputated while he was still a baby.
“Mark’s family are obviously worried about the future of funding for prosthetics and as such I decided to help the ‘March-4-Mark’ fund to raise as much as possible with all money raised going towards providing Mark with the best possible prosthetic legs and running blades as he grows up. As you can imagine, he will need many of them as he grows.
“Hopefully, this will inspire Mark to believe in himself and realise there is nothing that he can’t achieve.
“Being able to run has given me so many great memories over the last couple of years and I hope I can help give the same to someone who deserves it more than me.”
Ch Insp Jones has raised about £2,760 and handed over the money to Mark’s family this week, including Mark’s grandad, David Robinson, the Mayor of Sefton, at a presentation at Lancashire Constabulary HQ.
Ch Insp Jones is already planning next year’s fundraising events and is looking at supporting Ronald McDonald House.
He has been in post for three months, having moved from Merseyside police, where he worked for 21 years.