Inspirational run in memory of baby daughter
ONE OF the most inspirational fundraising challenges in recent years is set to be completed on Monday, when Benjamin Napier disembarks off the NorthLink ferry for the final leg of his gruelling 370 miles run from Dunbar to Shetland.
The father of three is raising funds for the Chest, Heart and Stroke Scotland charity as a big thank you for helping his family coping with their darkest hour.
Soon after losing their one year old daughter Chloe following a 12 month battle with Down’s Syndrome and leukaemia in June 2007, 39-year old Benjamin discovered that he also had to fight cancer when he was diagnosed with stage 4 Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
In May 2012 his wife Sarah suffered a massive stroke, which almost killed her. Her speech is still severely affected but she is making progress every day.
“Chest, Heart and Stroke Scotland provided invaluable support, advice and information to both Sarah and our family and provided Sarah with a network of support,” he said.
And so ten days ago, he set off on Chloe’s Tour from his home in Dunbar to Lerwick, where he grew up and where his parents live.
Running 40 miles is no mean feat, but repeating this every day for ten consecutive days requires some extraordinary determination and stamina.
Speaking on Saturday evening after completing 320 mainland miles, he said he continues to be amazed by all the support he receives.
“The support has been amazing with many messages on Facebook; and the fundraising has just been phenomenal, last time I looked we had more than £10,600 on the Just Giving page,” he said.
Well, by Sunday this had grown to more than £11,300; and there is more coming in through private collections.
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During a friend’s wedding at the weekend, he was invited to but couldn’t attend, a further £350 had been collected, he said.
His last day running on the Scottish mainland was made that little bit easier when his brother Stewart, who lives in Brussels, suddenly turned up at the Altnaharra Hotel to run the last 42 miles with him.
“That was pretty amazing. He has never run anything like that before in his life.
“And my cousin Jenny came across from Orkney, so she joined us for the last 17 miles into Scrabster,” he said.
After crossing the Pentland Firth on Sunday morning, he is completing a 35-mile loop in Orkney before catching the overnight ferry to Lerwick where a hero’s welcome awaits him at the Holmsgarth ferry terminal on Monday morning.
To round off an amazing ten days he will be joined by friends for a final circuit through the Tingwall valley before crossing the finishing line outside his parents’ house in Bruce Crescent.
Donations can be made at www.justgiving.com/fundraising/ChloesTour
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