Running club’s epic challenge

A RUNNING group from Calderdale hopes to raise money to support the NHS with an epic challenge after being inspired by the fundraising exploits of Captain Tom Moore.

Members from the Northowram Pumas Running Club, based in Halifax, are determined to follow in the fundraising footsteps of Captain Tom Moore after passing the halfway point in their challenge to run 5,000 miles as a club in 30 days.

Inspired by Captain Tom’s exploits the running club has already raised £5231 for the Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust - and intends to add thousands more before the challenge is complete in the middle of May.

More than 110 of the running club’s members are taking part in the 30-day challenge, including Louise Heath, a podiatrist who works at the hospital trust and the youngest runner, 10-year-old Oscar Kravtschuk.

Louise said: “The money could be put towards things like more equipment and more PPE as we continue to battle this terrible virus.

“It will also hopefully give recognition, hard work and dedication to all the hospital and community workers from Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust.”

After 21 days of the group’s challenge so far they have collectively run 4,278 miles with runner with Andy Sales, clocking up the most miles. The postman from Rastrick has run 181 miles so far, averaging over nine miles a day.

He has been running some of the miles with his daughters, Evie and Poppy, who are both also members of the running club’s junior section.

Andy said: “It’s such a fantastic cause and a great challenge organised by the club, and I felt I wanted to help as much as I could by contributing as many mile as I could.”

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