CROSSROADS CHARITY RUNNERS RECEIVE CHAMPAGNE WELCOME (NEWS PHOTO SPECIAL)
Bubbles and balloons greeted the nine heroic runners who braved the winds and weather of Stormy Amy and breezed back into Teddington tonight after raising a massive £10.000 for the local Crossroads Care charity completing a gruelling a 250 mile challenge from Land’s End which ended at the Builders Arms pub.
The runners ran in relays, one at a time, with the support of four drivers and three navigators throughout the night and day from Friday evening with each runner clocking up over 30 miles and sleeping and recovering in a shared minibus.
Tonight families of the runners and at least 200 supporters of the charity wearing Crossroads Care tee shirts gathered outside the Builders Arms in Field Lane behind a makeshift finishing line with a golden ribbon and balloons as Chariots of Fire was played on the pub’s sounds system.
The team was made up of Jess, the charity’s holistic therapist and a former care support worker, and Stuart, the event organiser and long-time adventurer who is owner of local fitness company Foundry Fitness, as well as Martin, Rupert, Michelle, Dave, Kate, Joey and Ed.
“I’ve seen first-hand the emotional and physical toll caring takes,” says Jess. “It’s a role that never stops, not even at night. Respite care is more than just a break — it’s often a lifeline.
“But I really wanted to go many steps further to help carers, which is why I decided to take on this daunting challenge to help raise as much money as possible, enabling the charity to continue providing such an important service and hopefully help even more carers.”
Stuart added: “We are all local and passionate about creating an impact close to home. The commitment carers have to looking after their loved ones is absolutely immense and they do it with little recognition or rest.
“Supporting smaller local charities like Crossroads is vital — they fill gaps in care that larger systems can’t always reach. When Jess told me about Crossroads, I felt compelled to try and do something to help such an important group of people.”
You can still support the team here:https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/250milesforcarers