A FITNESS model and Instagram star who ran the length of the UK in just 14 days to help cope with the grief of losing his mum to cancer has called on Londoners to join him on his latest gruelling challenge – 12 marathons in 12 days ending on Christmas Day.
Will Goodge, 27, who lives in London, hopes to raise £12,000 for Macmilllan Cancer Support by tackling the 315-mile The 12 Marathons of Christmas challenge on a 5km circuit in London’s Hyde Park, which began on December 14.
The athlete has invited his 87,000 Instagram followers and runners of all ages and abilities to join him for as much or as little of the distance as they like to help raise money for the charity which helped his mother Mandy Goodge, who died almost three years ago aged just 53 after a long and courageous battle with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.
Everyone who joins Will will see their fundraising efforts match-funded by Pure Sport CBD, says the company’s founder, a Scotland international rugby player.
Will, originally from Ampthill, Bedfordshire, pushed himself to the limit when he ran the 875 miles from John O’Groats to Lands’ End in just 14 days last year. Despite the extraordinary physical ordeal, the memory of his ‘amazing’ mum kept him going, and he will couple that motivation with a desire to help others affected by cancer to get him through the 12-marathon challenge.
Will said: “Long-distance running is can be painful, grueling and tough, but it’s nothing compared to the toll cancer takes on people living with the disease and their families all over the country every day.
“It’s always a tough time living with the disease, for the person and their loved ones.
“The current COVID crisis has led and will lead to many missed treatments, screening and opportunities to find and stop cancer.
“As someone who has been affected by and seen what it causes, it saddens me massively, to assume others will undoubtedly experience the same.
“The money raised will help those suffering and their families cope and hopefully bring us another day closer to a cancer-free world.
“Kisses up to the sky for my mum, she was a proud supporter of Macmillan before she even diagnosed so I know this will be the Christmas present I can send her this year. Thanks for the support as ever world. I feel it.
“I would love to see as many people as possible – whether directly or indirectly affected by cancer, or simply who care about the cause – come out and run with me between December 14 to 25. It will make a difference.”
Will is an ambassador for cannabidiol brand Pure Sport CBD, whose rigorously tested products he used to help recover from the pain and inflammation caused by his Land’s End to John O’Groats challenge.
The company has backed the 12 Marathons of Christmas Challenge by offering to match fund any donations made by runners joining Will over the 12 days. All fundraising runners have to do is post about their challenge on social media and tag @puresportCBD.
Pure Sport CBD co-founder Grayson, a Scotland rugby international, said: “Will is passionate about running and raising awareness through testing his limits in memory of his beloved mum Mandy.
“We are proud to have him on our team, and to support him in these amazing challenges that are for a greater cause.
“We hope as many people as possible join Will on his challenge, and together we can all raise as much money as possible for this incredible cause.”
To donate to Will’s The 12 Marathons of Christmas challenge, click here.
