A Wilmslow man will be running the Chiltern Way this month to raise money for the Wilmslow based charity Kibera in Need (KIN).
Joel Marris, who lives on Broadwalk, is running the 172 mile footpath across the South-East of England with his friend Steve Bownds who he has known since childhood.
The distance is the equivalent of seven marathons, or running from Central London to Sheffield, and they have given themselves just 5 days to complete it - which works out at 34 miles of running each day.
Joel said "We both enjoy running regularly but the truth is that we've never done anything quite like this before.
We've done many long distance runs together over the years, including the Wilmslow Half Marathon for the last two years, but the big challenge this time will be maintaining the momentum for five consecutive days.
"We chose the Chiltern Way for three reasons. Firstly because we felt it was the right distance to represent a huge challenge, but one which, with a lot of training and determination, we think we can achieve.
Secondly it is also close to where we used to, and our parents still live. Thirdly and most excitingly, according to the Chiltern Society who are responsible for it, we have the opportunity to be the first people ever to run the 172 mile route in its entirety."
They will be enduring this gruelling route to raise money for their chosen charities. Joel will be runnning for KIN which provides a lifeline for children and adults living in the Kibera slum by providing money for education, vaccinations, food for children and by providing financial support for adults trying to establish local businesses.
Situated near Nairobi in Kenya, the Kibera is one of the world's largest and poorest slums, home to over 800,000 people in an area of 2.5 sq. km. Some 20% of children die before their fifth birthday and close to 60% of people living in the Kibera have HIV/AIDS. This year's Comic Relief drew attention to the hardship endured in this slum, but help is needed all year round.
Joel and Steve will start their run on Tuesday 21st June and hopefully finish on Saturday 25th June.
Joel said "The training has gone well, although both of us have struggled with set backs in the form of minor injuries.
"In addition, Steve has only recently handed in a Master's dissertation and I'm in the middle of my final exams on the Legal Practice Course, so it has been difficult to find enough hours to train for an event which demands sustained endurance for the whole day, but we're now both feeling strong and can't wait to get started.
"Obviously the whole event is intended to revolve around the fundraising. That has been our primary motivation throughout training and will certainly continue to be throughout the run itself."
If you would to sponsor Joel and help him raise money for Kibera in Need, please visit his donation page on Just Giving.
