Chesterfield dad runs half marathon every day for a month to support charity

Tom Cotterill, 32, from Chesterfield has run 13.1 miles every day this month to raise money for Sheffield Children’s Hospital.

With no rest days, he has completed a total of 406 miles.

Tom said: “I have had short periods of running since I was a teenager, but after my daughter Taryn was born sleeping in 2016, running became a way of raising awareness.

“Now, when I run, I feel like Taryn is by my side, taking on new challenges and helping as many people and great charities as we can.”

Tom’s running started bright and early every morning, beginning at 5am and taking a route which makes the most of the Peak District and the sunrise.

Tom said: “It’s the only way I can do the challenge around work commitments and having a young family with as little impact as possible. I’ve run marathons before, but the duration of this challenge is beyond anything I’ve ever tried.”

He was motivated to take on the challenge after seeing a post shared by a friend on Facebook.

It asked for support for eight-year-old Jude Hawkridge’s efforts to back The Children’s Hospital Charity and its appeal to transform the Cancer and Leukaemia ward.

Jude, from Rotherham, was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia.

The Cancer and Leukaemia ward at Sheffield Children’s Hospital provides treatment for cancer and blood disorders in children from babies through to 19-year-olds in South Yorkshire, Lincolnshire and Derbyshire. It also sees patients from across the UK for treatment and surgeries including bone marrow transplants.

Last month The Children’s Hospital Charity announced its fundraising was set to fall by £2.5m due to the coronavirus pandemic. The fall leaves the timeline for building a new Cancer and Leukaemia ward, Emergency Department and on-site Helipad at Sheffield Children’s in doubt.

To find out more about the appeal to transform Sheffield Children’s Hospital, visit www.tchc.org.uk