Barrow and Ulverston runner sponsors could win holiday

Brathay Trust, host of the annual Windermere marathon, is offering up a two-night stay at its stunning base near Ambleside as part of a drive to encourage donations for its 2016 10in10 runners.

Ulverston’s Paul Dewar and Barrow’s Sonja Foster will each tackle 10 laps of the lake in as many consecutive days, with their final run taking place just before the main marathon on Sunday May 22.

Every £1,000 their incredible efforts inspire will pay for a youngster to take part in one of Brathay’s life-changing programmes supporting vulnerable children and young people.

Both runners have set up JustGiving pages seeking sponsorship for their endeavours.

Throughout December, anyone who donates via either of their pages will be entered into a prize draw to be in with the chance of winning two nights’ bed and breakfast at Brathay Hall.

Sarah Thompson, fundraising and volunteer coordinator at Brathay Trust, said: “They’ll be able to walk down to the grounds and the boat landing while staying on the north shore of Windermere, an easy 15-minute walk from Ambleside.

"In my time here, I’ve seen deer running on our grass, we’ve seen rare birds, there have been otters swimming in the water nearby.

“They’ll also get to experience a little bit of the magic of what a lot of our young people experience when they come here as part of our work.

“It’s peaceful, it’s idyllic, often you can feel like there’s just no one else around.

"A weekend away like that would normally cost you around £300.”

Anyone who wants to be in with a chance to win the break, to be taken any time before March 2017, must leave their name on their JustGiving donation and should include the reference “NWEM” in their sponsorship comments.

Visit  https://www.justgiving.com/tohellandback1600/ to support Mr Dewar.

Or https://www.justgiving.com/Sonja-Foster4Furness/ to support Ms Foster.

10in10 Runner Profile: Sonja Foster

“As well as a run leader via Run England for Parkside Panthers, I’m also a member of Barrow and Furness Striders.

"I work for Barrow Borough Council as a fitness instructor, lifeguard, duty officer and swimming teacher and for Nuffield Health as a swimming teacher.

“I have always been a very fit and active person throughout my childhood and adult life, and I enjoy challenging both my mental and physical abilities.

"After taking the first step and applying for the London Marathon in 2004, my running career was born.

“Between 2004 and 2014 I ran a total of four marathons before applying to Brathay for the 10in10 last year, thinking I would not get accepted and they would tell me what I needed to do to get in.

“But that didn’t happen. I was excited and terrified all in one when the phone call came and I was in.

“Since then I have run 17 official marathons, taking my total to 21.

"I enjoyed Brathay that much in 2015 that I’m going back for 2016, and I’m so proud I was accepted again.

“I also train other people to run.

"I trained a group of 42 women for the Race for Life, following a running programme I devised from couch to 5k in 12 weeks.

"I gained a great amount of enjoyment from seeing them achieve something they thought was impossible and I continued to train the group afterwards. 

"Eventually we formed the Parkside Panthers running group.

"I have trained with some local running legends, including Dave Spencer, Roly Carruthers, Bob Atkinson and Steve Murray, and their running stories have inspired me to go for my dreams.

"I was going to apply for the 10in10 in 2012, but put my running on hold while I trained for and cycled Land’s End to John O’Groats for Alice’s Escapes.

"My running was kick-started again after I set myself the challenge of running 101miles for the Army Benevolent Fund in memory of a local hero and my best friend’s son, Kingsman David Robert Shaw, who was tragically killed whilst serving his country in Afghanistan.

“It was a very emotional time for me and I entered various races throughout the year to reach the mileage total and raise approximately £1,800.

"Running helped me cope and kept me strong so I could be there for my best friends, David’s mum and dad, Jenny and Dave.

“I set a challenge for myself every year and The 10in10 was without doubt my biggest challenge and pushed me to my limits, but I enjoyed really testing my own self-belief and my mental and physical abilities and I am as determined as ever to do it all again.

"Training hard and keeping myself focused on the amazing charity I am running for will help me conquer this challenge again.

"I am overwhelmed by the generosity of friends and strangers who have donated money and fundraising gifts already.

“After finishing last year my daughter was inspired by all the runners who took part as she came up a few times to support everyone and brought my grandson too.

"She said if I did it again she would do the marathon and that was enough inspiration for me, seeing how emotional she was and how proud everyone was of me.

"I want to be the one who cheers her over that finish line and gives her the big proud hug she deserves.

“When I was at Brathay I got an insight into some of the work they do.

"It made me make up my mind to enter again too, a fantastic charity with a fantastic team behind it.

“I have raised about £20,000 over 10 years for various charities, including Furness Oncology Unit, St Mary’s Hospice and Alices’ Escapes.

"Nationally, I have fundraised for Help for Heroes, Army Benevolent Fund, Cancer Research and Diabetes UK.

“I work two jobs whilst bringing up my own family. I am also a grandmother and use the rest of my free time coaching other runners and encouraging people to discover the many health giving benefits of running and exercise.

“I hope to inspire other ordinary women like me to do something out of the ordinary and to enrich their own lives.”

10in10 Runner Profile: Paul Dewar

“On May 2, 2016, I will start cycling from Land’s End to John O’ Groats and then back down to Brathay on the northern shores of Lake Windermere.

“I have allowed myself 10 days for this section of the challenge - that’s going to equate to an average of over 130 miles a day, every day, for 10 days.

"If I am very lucky this is going to be eight to nine hours of riding, plus breaks.

"If I am not so lucky it could be a nightmare 12-plus hours in the saddle.

“It’s going to hurt.......a lot.

“Once I make it back to Brathay, I will be preparing myself to swim the length of the lake - an estimated distance of 10ish miles in one day.

"I have no idea how long this day will be. I will be tired, I will struggle to get energy into my body whilst in the water, and it is so weather dependent.

“It’s going to be cold........very cold.

“The very next day I will be embarking on the Brathay 10in10, a marathon every day for 10 consecutive days on the same undulating route around Lake Windermere.

"Hard enough on its own without having cycled and swam for 11 days beforehand - just off the scale if you have.

“It’s going to be tough.......very, very tough.

“I am taking on this challenge in order to raise funds for the Brathay Trust. 

"This is a wonderful charity that seeks to help children and young people who have fallen through the fabric of society.

"They face many challenges - living in an age where youth employment, anti-social behaviour, urban deprivation and gun and knife crime make news headlines on a daily basis.

“Brathay helps some some of the most vulnerable, abused and disengaged to make a successful transition into adulthood.

"Community support and youth work in some of our most disadvantaged towns and cities, combined with life changing residential experiences in the Lake District, help young people to build their self-esteem, skills and confidence to flourish and enjoy their lives in the widest sense.

"I need your help, I need your support. I am self funding this challenge and can guarantee that all the monies that you donate will go to Brathay Trust to enable them to continue the good work that they do.

"Finally, Thank You for reading and donating.”