Local Dad Paddy Dearlove is set to run 44 marathons in 51 days to raise money for charity... (Ed. 47)

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"What has really driven me is my desire to fulfil my potential. At the end of the day it is about the process. Achievements and medals are the benefits of the process. So if I do the best I can possibly do then anything that comes along in competition is a mark of that."

Catriona Morrison - World Duathlon Champion

EDITION 47 - SUMMER 2011

Paddy Power

Paddy gets set with Jared and Luca

Local Dad Paddy Dearlove is set to run 44 marathons in 51 days to raise money for charity...

A super-fit dad is hoping to raise £100,000 for charity by running 44 marathons in 51 days in a bid to help inspire his three young sons.

Paddy Dearlove, an Active Schools Coordinator based in Eyemouth in the Scottish Borders, will attempt the gruelling 1153 mile challenge beginning on May 1 to raise money for the Sick Kids Friends Foundation, the charity which supports the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Edinburgh, and Comic Relief.

The 36-year-old dad of three will kick off his fundraising efforts from the Edinburgh hospital before running 44 marathons in seven weeks – a feat inspired by comedian Eddie Izzard who ran 43 marathons in 51 days for Sport Relief in 2009.

Paddy explains: “My wife and I separated at the beginning of 2010 which meant my sons were living 30 miles away and I wasn’t able to see them everyday, which was heart-breaking.

“I’m only in my 30s and my children are so important in my life. Emotionally I hit rock bottom but instead of dwelling on it I decided to try to turn it into a positive. The longer I spent away from the kids the more I thought about how I could be the best possible dad to them. I wanted to leave a legacy with them and teach them some very basic lessons in life - aim high, dream big and work hard to meet your goals head on.”

And Paddy hopes the experience will help inspire not only his own kids but schoolchildren across the country as he takes part in marathons throughout the UK.

He added: “My job is to help get kids excited about living healthily and getting enough exercise, hopefully this will be a good tool to help inspire them to do that. It won’t be easy but it’ll be worth it.

“I chose the Sick Kids Friends Foundation as one of the two charities I’d like to raise money for because of my families’ experience of the hospital. Over the years my three sons – Isaac (6), Jared (4) and Luca (1) – have each received treatment at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children and each time the staff have been magnificent.

“My eldest son, Isaac, was rushed to the hospital suffering from febrile convulsions (mini fits) when he was just six months old, it was one of the scariest times of my life and I’ll never forget it. Luckily the condition was treatable but he developed pneumonia and was eventually diagnosed with reflux to the kidneys. He was on antibiotics for four years and we made regular visits to the hospital for more tests and treatments.

“Despite the intense worry and having to watch our son go through various medical procedures, the staff continually put us at ease. Even with the heartbreaking nature of the work that goes on at the hospital it has a very positive vibe about it - created by the amazing staff and fantastic surroundings which are supported by the Sick Kids Friends Foundation.”

Rachel McKenzie, Community Fundraising Manager at the Sick Kids Friends Foundation, said: “This is an amazing challenge and Paddy is a brave man to take it on. We are incredibly grateful to Paddy for helping raise funds to support SKFF, as he can attest to the fact that the staff at the hospital do an incredible job. We’re delighted to help support them in delivering such a vital service.”

Paddy will also be raising funds for Comic Relief which helped inspire him to take on the challenge.

To find out more about Paddy’s challenge or to donate visit www.run4thekids.co.uk or follow his progress on twitter @run_4_the_kids or search ‘Run4theKids’ on facebook.

Paddy’s marathon calendar runs as follows:

Sunday 1st May 2010 Edinburgh Dunbar

Monday 2nd May 2010 Coldstream New Bewick

Tuesday 3rd May 2010 New Bewick Weldon

Wednesday 4th May 2010 Dunbar Eyemouth

Thursday 5th May 2010 Eyemouth Coldstream

Friday 6th May 2010 Weldon Blyth

Sunday 8th May 2010 Blyth Angel of the North

Monday 9th May 2010 Angel of the North Sedgfield

Tuesday 10th May 2010 Sedgfield Stokesley

Wednesday 11th May 2010 Stokesley Nunnington

Thursday 12th May 2010 Nunnington Driffield