Approved Food are getting right behind the charity efforts of Alan Boothroyd by supporting his attempt to run the 940 miles from Lands End to John O’Groats in only 20 days.
Alan sets of from Lands End on 29 March and, all being well, he will cross the finishing line in John O’Groats on 16 April. He is raising money in aid of the Keep It Up Campaign which is Huddersfield Town AFCs charity to raise money for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.
Dan Cluderay, owner of Approved Food, said: “It is a crazy challenge but Alan believes he can do it and has our full backing. At Approved Food we wanted to support a charity this year and as we sell to customers the length of the country we thought this was a very suitable project.”
“In addition to providing food, drink and a few other things to the event we are also going to be announcing a number of other initiatives to support Alan and hopefully encourage our customers to get involved as well, Dan added.
The 51-year-old was motivated to help the charity after family friend Callum Parkinson (then 13) was saved by the heroics of the Yorkshire Air Ambulance service in June 2009. Callum was knocked down in a road accident in Fenay Bridge, but defied the odds to survive thanks to the quick actions of paramedics on the scene and the speed with which he was flown to Leeds General Infirmary for treatment. He has since made a remarkable recovery.
Alan said: “The air ambulance saved his life and I wanted to do something to help them. I just like doing distance running and being outside”. Alan said. “But people who know me think I’m mad!”
Alan will be running the equivalent of two marathons a day for nearly three weeks. He has previously run coast-to-coast from Blackpool to Bridlington in three days in 2009, also for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.
He said: “When I ran coast-to-coast I lost about a stone and-a-half in weight. In a way I ran it too fast. I got back to running within three or four days, but this time I’ve got a nutritionist and I’m planning to pace myself. I’ll run every day in three three-hour stints.”
The marathon challenge was originally scheduled to take place in 2012 but was delayed by injury: “I was ready to do it last year but got injured on a bike ride so couldn’t. I’m a big Huddersfield Town fan so decided to do it for the clubs charity. I’m building up my training now, not just running but doing pilates and swimming, trying to get fitter and ready for it.”
To sponsor Alan visit his JustGiving page HERE
For more information on the Keep It Up Campaign CLICK HERE
You can follow Alan on Twitter HERE
