Joshua helps grandad feel miles better
ATHOUGHTFUL nine-year-old is taking on a challenge following his grandad’s recovery from coronavirus.
Goalkeeper Joshua Curran is running 30 miles in 30 days throughout June to improve his fitness ahead of the football season and raise money for NHS staff that looked after his grandfather David Simpson, from Norden.
Thankfully, grandad-ofsix David has fought off Covid-19 in Salford Royal Hospital’s intensive care testing negative for the virus on June 8. Remarkably, he has previously survived cancer, sepsis, and kidney failure in the past.
Joshua, who lives in Rossendale, set an initial £200 target, but has already gone past the £1,400 mark from his daily runs around their local field, including a best time of 7:58.
Joshua’s mum Claire said she and the family are really proud of what he is doing at what has been a really difficult time for the family.
She said: “We have been in contact with Joshua’s grandad via FaceTime when he has been well enough, however he has been seriously poorly so there have been a couple of days where we haven’t heard anything from him as he has been too unwell to call, and we are obviously not allowed to go to the hospital to visit him.
“He is, however, an exceptionally strong character with an extraordinary love of life.”
Joshua, who also has a brother, Jack, will put the money raised towards relaxation rooms on the Covid wards at Salford Royal and other North West hospitals.
Claire said her 65-yearold dad David, who is married to Yvonne, has two daughters, and has a mum and three brothers living in Rochdale, told her he wants to remind people how much of a threat coronavirus remains.
She said: “He wants people to appreciate that in interpreting the relaxation of lockdown rules to their own benefit by having days out at the beach, having family gatherings and protesting and rioting that they are seriously putting the lives of the vulnerable in danger.
“We have been really lucky to not have lost dad but there have been a few days while in intensive care that both dad, ourselves and the doctors were not sure that dad would pull through.
“We do not yet know what the after effects will be for dad, but with the number of health issues that dad already deals with on a daily basis, these are only going to make dad’s life harder than it already is.”
A separate fundraising page has now been set up. Visit justgiving.com and search for ‘Claire Curran’ and follow the link under ‘Crowdfunders.’