Running 1200 miles in memory of Glenn Simmons
In January, Brad Simmons and his friends Michael and Jamie are running a half marathon every day for the whole month (31 back to back half marathons) covering a total of 406.1 miles each, a combined total of 1,218.3 miles.
2020 has been an awful year for Brad as he lost his Dad, Glenn who was his “biggest inspiration” and the man he “looked up to more than anyone else”. Unfortunately, Brad also lost his Uncle, Adrian in what has been a terrible year for the family.
On 3rd January 2021, it will be one year since Glenn passed away and Brad is eager to raise funds to go towards something that his father was passionate about. Glenn was an inspirational leader at YMCA Trinity Group. He worked tirelessly to support young people from all over Cambridgeshire and Peterborough to help them when they found themselves with nowhere to stay. Alongside this, he started the Access 2 Employment Programme in 2016 and the project has since engaged with over 1,000 people – helping them back into education, training or employment.
In raising money for A2E, Brad hopes to create the ‘Glenn Simmons Fund’ which will be able to offer individuals an opportunity to access much needed resources that they cannot afford themselves. Hopefully this will help give people a chance to begin a career in an industry where they may otherwise had been restricted to do so.
Brad explains the reason for choosing such an extreme challenge; “This time last year I found myself running across the Ica desert in Peru, competing at the Half Marathon Des Sables, my first ever multi-stage ultra-marathon. It was by far the craziest thing I had ever done, but I got the taste for it so quickly. Ever since this I have wanted to do more, to really push myself”.
After the Marathon, which was their initial aim, was cancelled in October, Brad and his friends decided to up the ante and “That’s where the idea to run a half marathon every day for the whole month of January was born”.
Such a challenge requires plenty of support and Brad couldn’t ask for more than having his two close friends join him. “I’m incredibly grateful to have Michael and Jamie commit to running this crazy amount of mileage in January as well as helping me raise funds for A2E in my dad’s memory.”
Brad is hoping to raise £1 for every mile completed and reach a target of £1,218. Anything you can donate will be greatly appreciated and will help him reach this milestone!
You can donate by visiting the Virgin Just Giving fundraising page or clicking the button below: