Wakefield man to run six marathons in six days in memory of mum
In August, a runner will be braving six marathons in six days across the UK coast to coast in memory of his mum and in aid of cancer support.
Tom Hacker from Wakefield, lost his mum to cancer when he was 13, and has since raised £30,000 for cancer charities.
He has walked 1,000 miles from John O’Groats to Land’s End over 28 days in 2007, cycled the same route in six days in 2011 and now aims to raise a further £20,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support UK.
Mr Hacker said: “This has been a long and painful journey for me. Fundraising helps me deal with what has happened and also create real change for those living with cancer today. The pain, the sacrifice, it’s all worth it.
“I have been training for over ten months, averaging 16 hours a week, running over 800 miles and anyone who is following my progress on my Facebook page will know it’s been gruelling at times. Before I started training I had never run further than 5km without stopping.”
On 11 August, Mr Hacker will set off from Liverpool Docks on the 165-mile journey that will take him through Manchester, Oldham, over the Pennines, through Huddersfield, Birstall, Leeds, Selby and Hull finishing at Spurn Point on the east coast.
The public are also invited to run with him in each of the stages, whether it’s for 100m or a full day.
He is planning to set off at 2pm each day so that people who are working can join him towards the end of the stage. Some people have already booked leave to run with him.
Sarah Cost of Macmillan Cancer Support UK, said: “I treated Tom’s mum, Sue towards the end of her fight with cancer. I remember it as if it was yesterday, she was such a lovely woman.
“When Tom got in touch and told me what he was doing it really touched me. I still have a sunflower cross-stitch Tom’s sister gave me after Sue passed away on the wall in my house. I am so proud of Tom and I know his mum would be.”
To find out more about the challenge, the stages, or how you can join Mr Hacker, visit www.6marathons6days.co.uk.
