News FeedLocal bobby on the run for charity!
Wednesday, 25th Jan 2012 - 9:54am
A police officer from Sheffield is donning his running shoes after setting himself a fundraising challenge inspired by the year of the Olympic Games.
Ian Morgan, who lives in Worrall, is attempting to raise £2012 throughout 2012 for St Luke’s Hospice in Sheffield by taking part in various sporting events, including the SIG Insulations Sheffield Half Marathon.
As part of the challenge, the 33 year old, who works for South Yorkshire Police, has also given up alcohol for six months whilst his wife, Sally, is pregnant with their second child, due in June.
Ian said: “I got the idea of the challenge when I was thinking about what New Year’s resolutions to make. I decided I wanted to get fitter and just be healthier in general, so by setting myself this fundraising goal I hoped it would make me more likely to stick to the resolutions.
“I chose St Luke’s as the benefitting charity because they provide vital support for people in the region who are suffering from incurable illnesses. The charity relies so much on the support of members of the public so I hope by raising this money I can someway help towards this.”
Ian, who has taken part in the Sheffield Half Marathon twice before, will also be competing in the Dronfield 10k in March and the ‘First of the Summer Tri’ triathlon event in Holmfirth, which will see him complete a 400 metre swim, 19.4 kilometre bike ride and a 5.6 kilometre run.
Ian, also father to a two year old boy, added: “I’d encourage other people thinking about taking part in the Sheffield Half Marathon to just do it. Completing a challenge like that gives you a fantastic sense of achievement and it’s a great chance to raise money for some brilliant causes.”
Fran Morley, community fundraising manager at St Luke’s Hospice, said: “We are really grateful for Ian’s support and we wish him luck in the Sheffield Half Marathon and the other events he is taking part in throughout the year.
“St Luke’s Hospice provides its service free of charge to patients and it costs £700 an hour to run. This year alone we need to raise more than £4 million of the £6 million it costs just to carry on doing what we do so we rely heavily on the generosity of members of the public, and our supporters are fantastic.”
The SIG Insulations Sheffield Half Marathon will take place on Sunday 27 May 2012 at Sheffield International Venues (SIV) managed facility Don Valley Stadium at the new start time of 9:00am. As well as the half marathon, Sheffield's Great Fun Run will also take place. Entry to this event is open to everyone.
The official benefiting charities for the 2012 Sheffield Half Marathon are: British Heart Foundation, Myasthenia Gravis Association, St Luke’s Hospice, Multiple Sclerosis Therapy Centre South Yorkshire, Sheffield Wildlife Trust, Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice, Sheffield Teenage Cancer Trust, Support Dogs, Breast Cancer Care and the Children’s Hospital Charity.
For more information and to secure a place to run on behalf of the chosen charities, call 0845 388 3438, or visit www.sheffieldmarathon.com to enter online.
To sponsor Ian, visit his Just Giving page at www.justgiving.com/2012Fundraiser. You can also keep up to date with his training progress via his Twitter account @2012Fundraiser.
