The boss running 31 marathons ...on the way to work
ASPORTS boss is aiming to raise £30,000 for a cancer charity with an astonishing 31 marathons in 31 days - while still doing his day job.
Gary Morton, from Helmshore, is collecting sponsorship in aid of The Clatterbridge Cancer Charity in Wirral, which is giving immunotherapy treatment to his mother-in-law Gillian Walker.
The 43-year-old head of purchasing for DW Sports is a keen amateur sportsman who has already completed a solo English Channel swim, triathlons, an ironman contest and has been running 10k every day since the start of the year.
Gary started his epic endurance challenge on September 29 and is clocking impressive times of around the four hours and 15 minutes mark.
He is running to work in Pemberton, Wigan, every morning which means getting up at 3am to eat his breakfast. He gets a well earned lift home from a colleague every evening.
He wants his final run to be from Gillian’s home town Wigan to the cancer centre, to be greeted by family, including sons Dominic, 11, and Albie, 5.
Gary’s wife Lindsay said: “Gary has got more selfmotivation than anyone I have ever met in my whole life.
“If it wasn’t for the funding and the money that people like Gary raise to go into cancer research, immunotherapy wouldn’t exist and it wouldn’t be able to work its magic on patients like my mum.”
Gillian, 62, was first diagnosed with skin cancer four years ago, which spread to her liver and lung. Lindsay added: “Just a few months ago mum got what we thought was tonsillitis. It wasn’t and we got the worst news and found out the cancer had spread to her throat, her liver and her lung.
“We were beyond devastated and instantly thought the worst. After being told her cancer had spread, her amazing consultant offered her a lifeline and told her about immunotherapy.”
Gillian is reacting well to the treatment.
Elspeth Wilson, the charity’s fundraising manager, said: “Thanks to the incredible support of Gary, Lindsay and his family, we’ll be able to take one step closer to transforming cancer care.
“It takes an incredible amount of dedication and hard work to achieve what Gary has in mind.”
Gary has raised almost £10,000 so far on his justgiving page. As well as donations, the family are appealing for runners or cyclists to join Gary on his daily marathons.