Stephen Ions and Ben Robertson from Newburn Running Club are stepping things up this week as they embark on an emotional endurance challenge in memory of Fellow Club Runner, Dave Jardin.
The challenge started 8am, Sunday 9th June at Tyne Amateur Rowing Club, Newcastle upon Tyne and will see the duo running routes across the region taking on 250 miles in a week consisting of six 30 mile runs with The Wall (70-mile race) on the final day.
In January the running club came out in force to support Fellow Club Runner, Dave who had recently been diagnosed with Multiple System Atrophy (MSA) to take on 7 Ultra marathons in 7 days to raise vital funds for The MSA Trust, sadly Dave lost his fight with the life limiting degenerative brain condition that has no cure in February 2024 at aged just 53, and now the duo have pledged to complete the challenge and raise funds in his memory.
Stephen and Ben will call at routes across the region and anyone is welcome to join in for the routes, whether that be some, all or even cycling alongside. All routes are bike friendly, with updates on the Facebook page.
Nearly £7,000 has already been raised on the JustGiving page: https://www.justgiving.com/page/stephens7in7?utm_medium=fundraising&utm_content=page%2Fstephens7in7&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=pfp-share#timelineUpdates
The MSA Trust is the only UK Charity dedicated to providing specialist care to support those affected and they need help to raise vital funds to pay for MSA nurses, support groups and research into both cause and cure. Last year, Dave raised over £1500 for the charity when he took on the Great North 5km.
A spokesperson from Newburn Running Club said: “David had been part of the North East running community for many years, he ran for several local clubs and massed a multitude of achievements, running races all over the world which continued right up until his diagnosis last year.”
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