David’s marathon effort in memory of runner Ian

DAVID Emanuel is tackling a 100-mile challenge in memory of a fellow runner who died during a race.

Starting tomorrow, he will complete the equivalent of a marathon a day when he runs the South Downs Way in four days in aid of the British Heart Foundation.

He chose the charity after father-of-two Ian Casey, a fellow member of Royton Road Runners, collapsed during the Gloucester Marathon in January.

Mr Casey (45) was also an endurance swimmer with Royton Bluefins and had lost his wife, Debra, to cancer four years ago.

“I think everyone who knew Ian, ran with Ian and worked with Ian was extremely fond of him. He was a sociable guy and such a good person to be around,” said David.

“For myself and my fellow running members it’s a big loss. He was a life and soul of the group.”

David (45), from Littleborough, raised more than £1,400 for Christie Hospital in December when he completed the 87-mile Ridgeway National Trail from Avebury in Wiltshire to Ivinghoe Beacon in Buckinghamshire in three days.

He then discovered that there are 15 national trails in England and Wales, ranging from 79 miles to 630 miles, and said: “My immediate thought was to wonder if I could run all 15. I have set off running one a year and I will see how I get on from there.”

David stepped up to marathon running in 2006 and has completed five, including the Yorkshireman Off-Road Marathon and the challenging Windermere Marathon.

He has run a marathon distance a day in training for the South Downs Way, which stretches from Eastbourne to Winchester.

He added: “It is not so much the distance, it is doing it in successive days that’s the bigger challenge. It’s mainly path and track, and up and down a lot, so there’s the additional challenge of having to do some climbing.”

People who would like to sponsor David can visit the webpage www.justgiving.com/djesouthdownschallenge.