A man hopes to help provide more families with unforgettable experiences by taking on 100 miles in 24 hours in memory of a 16-year-old boy.
Ollie Duell died in December last year after living with complex medical needs.
In his memory, Ben Blowes has decided to take on the fundraising feat for Soham-based charity, the Liam Fairhurst Foundation (LFF), that Ollie was supported by.
"Knowing someone personally who was supported by the LFF before his death, I wanted to do something to help,” said Ben.
“As daunting as this challenge is, it is one that I am relishing and I'm hoping the local running community will come out to support this charity.”
It is another mammoth challenge for Ben, who raised more than £200,000 by running 31 marathons in 31 days for charity Tom’s Trust two years ago.
Since Ollie’s death, his family and friends have raised enough money to provide six families affected by cancer, disability and life limiting illnesses to go on once in a lifetime holidays.
Ben, who will start on the hour every hour from Tesco in Newmarket at 12pm on December 2, aims to provide enough funds for the LFF to help 10 families go on similar trips.
"The loss of a child is something no parent should face, but knowing we can keep Ollie's memory and legacy alive by helping other families brings us some comfort,” Claire Masters, Ollie’s mother, said.
“We are grateful to Ben for what he is doing in Ollie's name and to the LFF for all the support they have provided us as a family.”
Ollie first joined the LFF in 2015, including on a trip to Eurodisney.
Sarah Fairhurst, mother of Liam whom the LFF is named after, hopes Ben’s fundraiser will allow more families to spend more time together.
“We are extremely grateful to Ben and Ollie’s family for everything they have done to raise finds that can help those families to have that time together,” she said.
“Every time someone does something in Liam’s name, it keeps his memory alive.”
If any businesses would like to sponsor Ben for a particular hour of his 24-hour run, email: liamfairhurstfoundation@proton.me.
To donate, visit Ben’s JustGiving page at: https://bit.ly/3tuvaDS.
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