A runner who has been completing a half marathon every day in May to raise cash for charity has been ‘overwhelmed’ with support after suffering an ankle injury.
Chris Asher, from Margate, was midway through his 20th run of the month when he suffered the injury and feared he would have to postpone his fundraising.
But members of That Running Club, which Chris joined in January, teamed up to carry out the rest of the runs to make sure the funding for Prostate UK is raised.
The cause is one that Chris feels passionate about after losing his dad John, aged 78, to the disease six months ago.
Chris, 48, had completed 257 miles of his 406 mile challenge when he suffered the injury.
The dad-of-three said: “Running every day in May was the plan and I was doing my 20th and all was going really well when I got the sudden ankle injury. It stopped me in my tracks.
“I’m part of a running group in Margate and I put in the group chat that I would have to pause (the fundraiser). Overnight they put a team together and were saying we will do it for you.
“ I was overwhelmed by the outpouring of support from each and every one of the THAT Running Club guys who have put their arms around me in recent months and never more so than to help run out this challenge on my behalf.
“Whilst they tell me that what I set out to achieve and how I was doing is inspirational to them, the fact is that I am truly in awe and humbled by their inspirational support which shows what can be achieved as a collective if we just reach out to help and work together. The results that are achieved are remarkable.”
Chris, who says this is the first injury he has suffered in 30 years of running, is now taking to his bike so he can take part in the half-marathon route along Margate’s seafront and says he is determined to cross the final line at the end of this month “on my feet.”
He added: “Prostate is the only cancer not screened for at all. Whoever it affects is someone’s husband, brother, dad, son, so it affects everyone.
“12000 men die from Prostate Cancer each year , it is a huge cancer with no screening. But Prostate Cancer UK has just secured funding for a research trial – a £42 million research programme which will help to find the best way to screen men so that one day all those at risk are invited for regular tests in the hope that this will be in time for a cure.”
That Running Club meets at Forts Café in Ethelbert Crescent every Thursday at 5.50pm and currently has around 100 members.
Find the group on Instagram here