Salfords student's first long-distance run raises £875 for cause (From Redhill And Reigate Life)

Salfords student's first long-distance run raises £875 for cause

10:30am Tuesday 16th October 2012 in News

A Salfords fitness and personal training student has completed a gruelling 31-mile run to the coast and raised more than £800 for a Brighton charity.

Charlie Walker, 19, of Westmead Drive, ran from his workplace at Earlswood McDonald’s on Horley Road, down to the coast at Brighton on Sunday.

It was his first long-distance run and he was making it in aid of Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC), the restaurant chain's cause which raises money to provide free ‘home away from home’ accommodation for families of sick children being treated in hospital.

Finishing his feat in five hours and 20 minutes, Charlie raised £875 for Ronald McDonald House Brighton, helping families of babies and children being treated at the Royal Sussex County Hospital and Princess Alexandra Children’s Hospital in Brighton.

He received a warm welcome when he ran in to Ronald McDonald House Brighton from his boss, Richard Francis, restaurant manager at McDonald’s Earlswood, and the assistant House manager, Martin Coatsworth. Charlie said: “The furthest I’d ever run was 15 miles, and that was in training, so to double it was a great achievement.”

He said: “At 22 miles I really did start to struggle and had to dig deep, but I was determined to reach the end and prove that I could achieve my goal and push myself for a great cause.

“The last couple of miles I had to slow my pace just to make sure I could reach my target destination – Ronald McDonald House Brighton.”

Charlie said: “Visiting the House was a great way to end the day and it was amazing to see the free home away from home facilities that Ronald McDonald House Charities provide for families whose children are being treated in hospital.”

He said: “I don’t have kids of my own so I can only imagine how hard it must be as a parent if your child is sick, particularly if you don’t have the resources to stay close to the hospital and be there when they need you most.

“I am really pleased to make a donation to Ronald McDonald House Brighton and would like to say a big thank you to everyone who encouraged me along the way and sponsored my efforts.” Donations to Charlie’s fundraising page can still be made online at: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/runtobrighton For more details about RMHC, visit the cause's website at: www.rmhc.org.uk Ronald McDonald House Brighton is split over two sites, incorporating 18 rooms.

The stand-alone House is located opposite the Royal Sussex County Hospital, which holds the Trevor Mann Baby Unit.

A further ten rooms are located within the Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital, in the same grounds of the Royal Sussex County Hospital. The original House opened its doors to families in 2000, and then relocated in 2007 to the new site. RMHC invested £600,000 in the relocation, and a further £300,000 to open a further ten en-suite bedrooms on the top floor of the Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital.