A group of dedicated friends from Peterborough, known as The Running Slugs, have raised an incredible £21,000 for charity after completing a gruelling endurance challenge. The five friends split the funds between Sue Ryder and Cancer Research UK in memory of family members lost to cancer.
Last month, the group completed the 4x4x48 challenge, which involved running four miles every four hours for 48 consecutive hours. To cap off their feat, they added an extra lap to ensure they completed exactly two full marathons in just two days.
The group handed over more than £10,000 to Sue Ryder and expressed their gratitude for the remarkable generosity shown by the community. They said: "We feel an overwhelming sense of gratitude for the unbelievable support we received, and immense pride for the amount we have raised for two amazing charities. The generosity shown has been remarkable."
The challenge was physically exhausting, especially during the second night when they had to run at 2 am with very little sleep. The runners said: "It was tough, especially the last four or five runs through the second night, when we were at the point of crawling up and down the stairs. Getting our legs going again each time was quite the task."
They added: "We, at best, got a total of four or five hours' sleep across the two days. But seeing friends and family dotted around the routes, cheering us on — even for the 2 am runs — made such a difference and gave us a much-needed lift every time." While five friends completed the full distance, over 20 people from the community joined them for the final leg to the finish line.
The group concluded: "We had some very black and blistered toes by the end, tired minds and sore legs, but it was worth every second to be able to honour the parents we've lost in our group, and for every life lost to cancer."
The donation to Sue Ryder is enough to fund nearly 300 hours of expert care for patients and their families. The money given to Cancer Research UK has helped fund a new machine used for vital DNA analysis.
Morgan Hicks of Sue Ryder said: "It’s thanks to people like the Running Slugs that we can continue to provide expert palliative and end-of-life care and grief support, offering hope, dignity and kindness when it matters most. Thank you Running Slugs for going the extra mile for Sue Ryder. What an achievement for which we are so grateful."
If you would like to help the charity or start your own fundraising, you can contact the Sue Ryder Thorpe Hall Hospice team on 01733 225 999.
