A Newcastle man is set to run the length of Britain this November to raise money for the North East Cash for Kids Christmas Appeal. Chris Gatrell, 42, will cover approximately 1,000 miles in 17 days, finishing with a 10K run from Newcastle's Central Station to the Great Park.
Challenge details
Chris, who is Head of Intelligent Automation at UK parcel delivery company Evri, will set off from Land's End, Britain's most southerly point, to John O'Groats, mainland Scotland's most northerly point. The run covers more than 950 miles and aims to raise £10,000 for Cash for Kids (Northeast) and its Mission Christmas Campaign.
Chris's journey begins November 12th. He will run an average of 60 miles per day before finishing in Newcastle's Great Park. His wife, Yasmin, suggested extending the distance by running a final 10K back on home soil in Newcastle, which Chris described as "really special."
Training and motivation
Despite having completed several marathons and ultra-marathons, Chris admits this challenge will push him harder than anything he has attempted before. In preparation, he runs around 50 miles per week, averages roughly 30,000 steps per day, and does strength and conditioning sessions in the gym.
The motivation for Chris lies in supporting families who benefit from the Mission Christmas Campaign. Last Christmas, his children's school arranged a £35 gift for a child, which the whole family took part in. Chris said: "Last Christmas, it really hit home that what should be a magical time for families can instead be a period of real worry, with some young people going without even the basics and facing challenges most of us can't imagine."
Community support and final stretch
Chris moved to Newcastle 10 years ago with his wife, who is a local Geordie, and has received support from the local community, including businesses like PhysiquePro Gym offering support and donations. After reaching Inverness, he will have a small 5-hour nap before arriving at Newcastle Central Station, where he hopes to complete the final length with personal trainers from Physique Pro and runners from local running clubs, cheered on at the Great Park.
Lisa Fox, Fundraising Executive at Cash for Kids (Northeast & Cumbria), said: "We're in absolute awe of Chris for taking on such an incredible challenge and we're thrilled that he's chosen to do so in support of our Mission Christmas campaign. Thanks to generous fundraisers like Chris, last year we were able to help over 43,000 children across the region wake up to a gift on Christmas Day and the money raised this year will play a vital role in helping to reach even more families through our campaigns."
Chris has an Instagram documenting his journey, and those wishing to donate can do so at his donation page.
