We recently reported on a pensioner who had walked the entire length of the Tyne and Wear Metro network in 18 months but now a teenager from the region is going a step further (well many, many steps further probably!) as he is to run the complete length of the system in a single day!
18 year old Charles McManus will be running to every stop on the network on Sunday 15th September in aid of charity. He will be running in memory of his dad, David, who died in 2017 with all proceeds going to St Oswald’s Hospice in Newcastle and the Brain Tumour Charity.
Charles commented: “I am into ultra running and read a lot of books on the subject. I keep fit and run regularly, so although the challenge sounds daunting, I am confident I can do it. I have been training to improve my cardio fitness but also doing leg work at the gym and cycling to improve my leg strength.
“When Dad was at the hospice, I remember going to visit him after my football training. I’d get a hot chocolate from the machine there and we’d sit together watching ‘Play to the Whistle’ on TV, as he loved that programme. We’d just chat about school, football, anything really.
“I just wanted to do something to help others who are in a similar position to my family, when dad was unwell. I heard about the man who ran the length of Africa for charity and that gave me the inspiration to do something myself, which is where the idea came to run the Metro map.”
He will start at 3am at South Hylton Metro Station before running through North and South Tyneside. He will finish at Monument Station having covered 77 miles in the day.
Lynne Dickinson, Head of Station Delivery at Nexus, said: “This is a fantastic fundraising challenge that Chrales is undertaking along our Metro lines. We all wish him well with it.
“To run the whole length of our yellow and green lines in a single day is a huge test of fitness and endurance. The run is taking place on the quickest routes adjacent to our lines, so none of it will actually be taking place on the actual tracks themselves.”
- To find all about Charles’ story and to donate to the charities please visit Just Giving at https://www.justgiving.com/team/mcmanusmetromaprun?utm_medium=team&utm_content=team%2Fmcmanusmetromaprun&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=pfp-share