Marathon man Carl goes on the run to help cancer charity
A MAN who has never run a marathon is attempting the equivalent of eight in eight days as he raises money for charity.
Carl Beresford, 29, of Cale Green, set off on a 220-mile run to Ravenglass, in the Lake District, and back on Saturday.
He is raising money for the Christie as his girlfriend Vikki Parr, also 29, has spent the last year being treated for cervical cancer there and is now on the road to recovery.
Carl, a carpet fitter, will also take on a number of other fundraising challenges this year including a cycle ride from Land’s End to John O’ Groats.
He said: “The Christie has helped so many friends and family members that I felt it was time to give something back and say thank you. In my head I’ve already completed it, I just hope my body can keep up. My friends keep asking me why I’ve picked such a hilly route but I like a challenge.”
Carl’s route will begin and end from his workplace, Firwood Carpets in Denton.
Although he has always been keen on sport and plays basketball and football, he was not a regular runner until he began training in earnest six weeks ago. Then he began running 10 miles and cycling up to 50km a day.
He completed last year’s Manchester Rough Runner in October and raised £1,200 for the Christie.
Carl has set himself a target of raising £7,500 through his challenges this year.
Emma Saunders, from the Christie, said: “We are delighted that Carl has chosen to raise funds for us with an impressive year of sporting challenges.
“It’s with support from people like Carl that we can carry on helping to fund life-saving treatment and research here, something Carl has witnessed firsthand.”
To support Carl visit his JustGiving page: www.justgiving.com/ fundraising/CarlBeresford.