Lancaster man to run three marathons in three days for hospice

Mark Houghton will commit to the gruelling challenge in September to raise funds for Lancaster St John’s Hospice.

The challenge he has set himself is to run the entire Morecambe Bay Cycleway, all 81 miles of it, from Walney Island to Glasson Dock.

He will begin on Friday September 9 and will finish in Glasson on Sunday September 11.

Mark said: “As far as we;re aware nobody has run this route so it should be a first.

“And I have never ever run this far before. I am training hard and I ran my first marathon in April.

“I chose to run for St John’s Hospice simply because they do fantastic work for the local community.”

Mark is no stranger to visit, he conquered the Blackpool Marathon in April this year and is a regular at the Lancaster park runs.

The 52-year-old has previously walked 450 miles to raise money for The Alzheimers’ Society.

The dad-of-two walked to Lancaster to visit his dad’s grave on Father’s Day - a total of more than 400 miles from his home in northern France last year.

Mark undertook the mammoth trek along England’s 
canal network in tribute to his father Barrie, who died from Alzheimer’s disease at the age of 66 in 2003.

Along the route, Mark stayed with friends and at Birmingham University where he did his degree, as well as camping for three nights.

He raised more than £2,500.

Now Mark has turned his focus to Lancaster St John’s Hospice and hopes to raise as much money as possible.

Mark has raised hundreds so far but still needs help.

You can sponsor Mark via his justgiving page at 
www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Mark-Houghton9 or follow his journey through his blog at https://threemarathons.wordpress.com/.

Lancaster St John’s Hospice are celebrating their 30th anniversary this year.

St John’s welcomed its first patients on December 5, 1985 but officially opened in January 1986.

In line with their celebrations there will be a family fun day at The Trimpell Sports and Social Club in Heysham on Sunday August 28 from 12noon. Find out more at the website at www.sjhospice.org.uk/events.