Running nearly 100 miles to help the countryside

THE STEPDAUGHTER of a Yorkshire farmer is raising funds for a rural support charity by running a combined total of 150 kilometres.

Sally Steadman, the vice-chairwoman of Farming Community Network’s Board of Trustees, is undertaking two feats of endurance as part of the fundraiser for the same organisation.

On June 5, she will embark on the Run to the Sea – a 50km run from Horsham to Brighton.

Then on July, 10 she will undertake the Race to the Stones, a 100km trek along one of the oldest trails in Britain – the Ridgeway National Trail, which finishes at the Avebury Stone Circle in Wiltshire.

She aims to finish the Run to the Sea in 8.5 hours and Race to the Stones within 24 hours.

Ms Steadman, the stepdaugher of David Abram, who farmed at Buskhill in Westow, lives in Malton in North Yorkshire and is hoping to raise £500 for the FCN through the challenges.

She said: “I wanted to do something to raise funds for the FCN following a tough year and limited opportunities to celebrate our 25th anniversary.

“Through the lockdowns, I started to run again. I have always run a little but short distances, in fact, I’ve never had an ambition to run far, and a marathon was not on my bucket list.

“However, this seems like the ultimate challenge and actually it’s more than just running, it’s about your mental strength as well as your physical fitness – this is about endurance and resilience. This felt like the perfect way to represent FCN, with the charity’s focus on helping farmers overcome challenges during testing times.”

More than 6,000 people benefit from the FCN’s support each year.