Sale dad's mission to complete 50 runs for charity to mark his 50th birthday
Martyn Cassidy, a man on a mission to complete 50 organised running events in a year to raise funds for Francis House Children’s Hospice, has selected the Great Manchester Run as event number 46.
Martyn Cassidy is running 50 events this year to raise money for Francis House Children’s Hospice © Martyn Cassidy
With his 50th birthday approaching on 28 June, Martyn will be donning his bright yellow running vest as he crosses the finish line, running in support of the beloved Manchester children’s hospice.
Martyn, who is a quantity surveyor, wanted to mark the occasion of turning 50 by getting fit and breaking a twenty-year cycle of running just one event a year.
His weekly challenges have taken him on a tour of the north west, running a combination of 5k parkruns, 10k runs, half marathons and part of a marathon relay team.
Martyn first took part in the Great Manchester Run in 2005 – his first ever running event after friends dared him, and his now wife Sara, to take part. For the next twelve years, he entered the annual event.
Martyn Cassidy with wife Sara.
He said: “That’s really when my running started at the Great Manchester Run. I loved running the route and it’s a great event for a first-timer as the crowds and atmosphere pull you along. There is a really good vibe in the town afterwards with all of the runners and their families and friends.”
Over the course of his ‘50 for 50’ challenge, Martyn will have clocked up approximately 500km in races and a further 500km in training runs between the events.
“We are lucky to live within easy reach of lots of different parkruns. Sale Water parkrun isn’t the easiest. It’s pretty flat but very rocky and uneven underfoot. We love it though and the views up and down the Mersey and across the water are magnificent. We are fortunate to have the Water Park on our doorstep and it’s also become a great place to train,” he said.
Martyn is hoping to raise £2,000 and is well on his way having raised more than £1,800 for Francis House.
Francis House Children’s Hospice supports more than 600 families from across Greater Manchester, providing a range of services including respite care, homecare, sibling support, end-of-life care and bereavement support to children and young adults with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions.
Annual running costs are £4.8 million, approximately £13,150 per day and all services are given completely free. By far the largest part of funding comes through charitable donations. Martyn said: “I was already aware of the brilliant work that Francis House does. It just felt like the right choice. I went to an open day at the hospice and it inspired me a lot. The next day I was running a very muddy and hilly Delamere Forest Trail 10k and it really pushed me to keep going.”
He added: “I’m addicted to running now. I’ve obliterated all my personal bests at every distance. Before this challenge, running was something that I dabbled with. I wasn’t serious about it and used to find it a bit of a chore to be honest. But now, if I don’t run, I don’t feel right.”
If Martyn’s story has inspired you and would like to run in aid of Francis House, the hospice is offering a limited number of discounted charity places for the Great Manchester Run 10k or half marathon on 26 May.
To register, visit francishouse.org.uk/great-manchester-run
