Going the extra mile for charity

RUNNERS David Emanuel (left) and Colin Green hand thei cheque to Lisa Pearson, Dr Kershaw’s Hospice appeals manager.

Runners fight fatigue and tough terrain to bolster hospice funds
FOUR marathons in four days proved to be a challenge every bit as tough as it sounds for two Royton Road Runners.

But the gain was worth the pain – with 21 hours and 51 minutes of pounding the earth raking in a massive £1,200-plus for Dr Kershaw’s Hospice.

David Emanuel and Colin Green covered a distance of just over four 26-mile marathons, when they tackled the 109-mile Cleveland Way.

They urged and egged each other on in difficult moments, as they battled to conquer dizzying climbs, steep descents and rough moorland, to make it over the finishing line at Filey.

“We were always of the view that we would get there, but the overwhelming sensation for me was immense relief,” said Littleborough man David (47), who took on the challenge with Colin (40), of Greenfield.

“It was definitely the toughest run of my life.”

David added: “There was some difficult terrain, it was very hot, and I had a bit of a fall on the first day, which left me shaken, battered and bruised.

“Two days later I got up in the morning feeling really stiff and sore, but once you get into running it blocks out other things.

“Colin finished in much better shape than I did. I got very dehydrated on the last day, and I felt dead on my feet for the last three or four miles.

“I finished in absolute exhaustion.”

David recalled: “The start of the run four days earlier seemed to be somewhere in the dim and distant past.

“And we only started to reflect on the satisfaction and achievement after taking a few days to recover.

“We saw some spectacular scenery and glorious places, and met some inspiring people along the way.

“The main thing is we survived intact, which was all it was ever about, and of course raising money for Dr Kershaw’s.”

The intrepid pair handed over a cheque for £1,199 to Dr Kershaw’s – with still more to come in.

David’s employers, Santander, agreed to match his half of the proceeds, and there is still time to boost the total by donating at www.justgiving.com/clevelandwaychallenge