Challenge of a lifetime
Reporter: LEWIS JONES
Date published: 05 April 2011
ANOTHER week of intense training awaits one caring fund-raiser from Royton who is gearing up to tackle the challenge of a lifetime.
Keen runner Chris Maylor can often been seen scaling the highest peaks of the Saddleworth moors.
But he will swap the scenic windswept hills for the bustle of the big smoke as he has signed up to run the London Marathon on Sunday, April 17.
Twenty-six miles of determination and endurance will await, but it’s all for a cause that is close to the dad-of- three’s heart.
He said: “One of my friends of over 10 years, Ray Glazer, died about a month ago after losing his cancer battle.
“He was very quiet and unassuming, put he was a real people’s person and he could talk to anyone.
“After he had been treated he then started helping out other cancer victims, taking them to hospital and lending a hand to Macmillan. But unfortunately his cancer returned.
“He thought the group did a brilliant job.”
Chris, a 40-year-old ex-Army corporal, is raising cash for Macmillan Cancer Support in his memory.
He is also splitting donations with the Alzheimer’s Society, after witnessing the disease’s effects first hand as a friend’s wife struggles with its symptoms.
It is also the chosen charity for Saddleworth Runners this year.
Avoiding the fells around Dovestone, Chris, who lives on Broadway, has been pounding the local streets up to six nights a week in preparation.
He said: “When I was young one of my teachers did the marathon and I said I was going to do it one day.
“It’s the biggest one in the world and the atmosphere will be brilliant - I’m so excited.”
To sponsor Chris on his quest visit www.adventurefundraising.moonfruit.com.
Hospice target
A KEEN Chadderton runner is hoping to raise lots of cash for Dr Kershaw’s Hospice.
Francesca Clayton (28), of Firwood Park, will run the London Marathon on Sunday, April 17.
And she’s been in hard training for the 26-mile slog, saying she would be happy with a time between four-and-a-half and five hours.
Francesca, who also plays netball and has been training for the police specials, said: “I’m doing a 20-mile run tonight.
“This is my third marathon and my best time was four hours, 40 minutes, so anything around that would be good.
“I wanted to run for Dr Kershaw’s again as some of my friends’ families have used the hospice and because it is my local charity.”
The development finance officer also ran for the charity in 2007.
Chronicle readers can sponsor Francesca by visiting www.justgiving.com/francesca-clayton.
