Marathon effort to help the homeless

JUST a year after taking up running, a kind-hearted fundraiser is pounding the streets of Manchester to help the homeless.

Energetic grandmother Wendy Leech (46) is preparing for the epic Manchester Marathon on Sunday after joining Royton Road Runners “Run England” club which trains up novices to reach distances of 5K.

But Wendy, who is also a foster mum, is set to go a lot further than that as she bids to raise funds for Oldham-based charity Cold Nights which helps to clothe, feed and support the city’s homeless.

“This time last year I wasn’t running at all,” said Wendy. “Then I joined the fantastic Royton Road Runners group and here I am, signed up to the Manchester Marathon! My number has just arrived so it seems very real now.

“I ran 20 miles the other weekend, that’s the furthest I’ve ever done. It went OK.

“The incentive is running for Cold Nights. It just breaks my heart to see all these people sleeping on the streets.”

If you’d like to sponsor Wendy, visit www.mydonate.co.uk.