Boxing coach completes 97-mile Ultra Run to raise £2,000 for charity

New Era Boxing’s Head Coach Mark Bebbington has collected around £2,000 for charity after completing Cheshire’s 97-miel ‘Golden Ring’ canal route in under 24 hours.

The Northwich Weaver Valley Rotarian has raised the money for its nominated charity of the year, Cheshire Young Carers.

He began his epic run in the early hours of Saturday 19th September alongside the Trent and Mersey Canal at The Old Broken Cross in Rudheath, Northwich and finished back where he started just before dawn broke on Sunday 20th September, having covered sections of the Macclesfield, Peak Forest, Ashton, Rochdale and Bridgewater Canals in between.

Bebbington covered the remarkable distance in 23 hours and five minutes to smash his target time of one full day.

“I originally planned to run the Leeds and Liverpool Canal Race, which unfortunately was cancelled this year,” he said. “However, I’m glad to have been able to run Cheshire’s Golden Ring instead to raise much needed funds for Cheshire Young Carers – and to be able to start and end the challenge in my home town was an extra motivation to keep going.

“I couldn’t have done it without all the help I received, especially from the support runners who joined me at various stages and pushed me on. I’m really grateful to all those businesses and members of the local community who sponsored me.”

Although benefiting from good weather for the event, his run was not without the odd moment of drama, taking a couple of tumbles during the night as fatigue set in.

Bebbington added: “It was tough mentally and physically and, by the time night fell, I’d already run the equivalent of two marathons back-to-back.

“My legs were pretty tired in those later stages and there were several times when I stumbled.  I did fall over twice, but had the support team on hand quickly with the first aid kit.”

Northwich Weaver Valley Rotary Club President, David Buxton is delighted with the amount Bebbington has raised – and praised his efforts.

He said: “Every member of our Rotary Club is incredibly proud of Mark – we really don’t know how he did it!

“It’s not easy trying to fundraise in the middle of a pandemic, but this awesome effort by Mark has got our fundraising for Cheshire Young Carers off to a flying start.”

There’s been little rest for Bebbington who gave himself just two days off before returning to coaching at New Era Boxing.

He’s now already eyeing up the 135 mile Ring O’ Fire coastal ultra marathon around Anglesey as his next potential challenge!

Donations are still being accepted and can be made by sending a Paypal payment to weavervalleyrotary@gmail.co.uk