Friends launch co-runner virus challenge for Lancaster hospice

Steve Mayor, Benn Oxley and brothers Ben and Max Yates are each running a collective distance of 19 miles every three days for the duration of the entire lockdown to raise money for their much-loved hospice.

They regularly post pictures on their Facebook page so we can all keep an eye on them and check they are achieving their challenge, which started on April 6 and sees them running around Heysham, Morecambe and Lancaster.

With a commitment to carry on until July 6 this is a challenge that must literally feel as if it is without limits - how do they remain positive and active?

Max said: “As a group we’ve have all been touched by St John’s in one way or another; for my brother and I it was our father who was there before he passed away from cancer in 2008.

"Since then we have tried to regularly do fund raising events to attempt to contribute to the hospice as we are grateful for all that was done during that time.

“Most of us in this town unfortunately have a connection with the hospice; I say unfortunate because usually it is to do with the serious illness of a loved one or family member, it isn’t a place you would likely have been to or had much need to visit if this was not the case.

"The amazing thing about St John’s is, although it’s usually a sad reason initially associated with the place, most if not all leave with very positive thoughts and memories about the care their loved one received and the atmosphere within the building."

His brother Ben said: “The team are all like-minded positive people who want to make the best of any situation put in front of them.

"Together we saw an opportunity in the face of the virus and the lockdown to try and do something both positive for our own physical and mental health and for the hospice who is in a time of need given that most fundraising events have been postponed or cancelled.

"We used a play on words in the title “Co-Runner Virus Challenge” and made the 19-mile target from the official name of the virus, Covid-19; this was to symbolise that the our actions were both because of and in spite of the situation we are all in.”

Steve added: “We are regularly involved with raising money for good causes and this is a great challenge for a great cause. We are absolutely blown away by the support we’ve received so far and our initial target of £1,000 was surpassed in the first couple of days, which shows what great friends, family and community we all have behind us.

"Since we started we have gained another team so there are now 8 of us doing the challenge every three days!”

Benn said: “With the current state of events the usual array of charity nights and sporting event fundraisers have either all been cancelled or postponed until well in the future.

"This leaves a large hole in the finances of local charitable causes such as St John’s Hospice who are still working and providing 24/7 care to our loved ones.

"To raise as much money as possible we did our homework and chose Facebook as a fundraising platform because they have waived all fees for the service during this uncertain time so the hospice is getting 100 per cent of the money raised.”

The four men realise times are hard for everyone at the moment and say that if anyone can help support their local hospice that they’ll be making a difference to a very worthy cause.

So if you would like to make a donation or fancy joining them you can set up your own team and use their fundraising page here