BRITAIN’S mega running man Danny Watson will run into central Hull tomorrow on the final day of his epic 30 marathons in 30 days challenge.
After running at least 26.2 miles every day since Wednesday September 23, when he set off from Brighton Pier, he eventually finishes his 30in30 in the city tomorrow (Thursday, October 22). He will have covered a total distance across England of more than 800-miles.
Today (Wednesday) he ran into Grimsby ending this penultimate marathon just west of the town ready for his final 30th marathon. It will take him over the Humber Bridge and into Hull where he will finish his 30 days of continual running at our Marina HQ, where our 72ft challenge yacht is based.
From Brighton, Danny’s journey has taken him through central London and up into Cambridgeshire. He first crossed the Humber Bridge in late September when his 26.2-mile daily route brought him to East Yorkshire on Day 10 of his 30in30.
On that visit he made a number of pitstops to the offices of some of his 30in30 sponsors, including Beal Homes, Andrew Marr International Ltd and Informed Financial Planning.
From there he spent the following week on a daily route around East and North Yorkshire, making his way across the North York Moors to the north east coast.
With an initial plan to run the 800-miles to John O’Groats changed due to the continued covid threat, he came back south across the Humber Bridge to complete a full loop of the huge county of Lincolnshire before running back through Grimsby to finish in Hull tomorrow.
In aid of our charity, which Danny helped to launch 11 years ago, he has a personal fund-raising target of £35,000.
With headline sponsors Yorkshire-based Linbrooke Services on board, Danny’s aim on this, his 50th birthday year, has been to ensure CatZero’s message of support, inspiration and hope is spread the length of the country.
“The ability for CatZero to help people effect lasting personal change has been proven since our launch 11 years ago with hundreds of people of all ages and abilities assisted back into long-term employment or training,” said Danny.
“Such support will be needed more than ever in the coming months and years as people face uncertain times in many areas of their lives. There has never a better time to raise awareness of how our charity is able to offer that support,” he added.
The 30in30 experience is a grand finale to seven consecutive years of personal challenges undertaken by Danny and other CatZero supporters. In total more than £80,000 has been raised in that time.
It is hard to believe, but Danny has not always been a fitness fanatic, in fact he couldn’t run a mile eight years ago when he was warned he was on the verge of obesity. That kick-started his weight loss and healthy lifestyle. Following his father’s death in 2013, Danny and his sister, Nicola, decided to run a marathon together in his memory and that began the seven-year challenge.
“I used to be three-stone heavier and actually it was my dad and sister Nicola who were the runners,” he said.
“When you are taking on these challenges, or any form of endurance exercise, it really is all about attitude. I now see it as a privilege to be able to train and undertake these adventures,” he added.
“Working with vulnerable families has affected me personally especially as I now have a family. I have used the principles we have developed in CatZero in changing my own life. I am passionate about the work we do with children, young people, and their families – creating lasting change.”
Linbrooke Services, which is proud to be supporting such an amazing challenge, is joined by other key sponsors – Adams and Green, ARCO, Beal Homes, Clipper Ventures PLC, Harris Lacey Swain, Hodson Architects, Horncastle Group, Informed Financial Planning, Marr, Pipers Crisps and the Sewell Group. It is also supported by W A Horncastle Charitable Trust and the Scarborough Group Foundation.
To donate, Danny’s 30in30 Virgin Money Giving page is: https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/DannyWatson30in30