TWO Winchester runners have raised more than double their £2,000 target for a free youth counselling service by finishing the London Marathon.
Tash Thomas and Beccy Hesse, from the New Energy Run Club, crossed the line on April 23, racking up £5,783.22 (including gift aid) for Winchester Youth Counselling (WYC), a free mental health service in St George's Street.
The 26-mile challenge was one of a series of goals for Tash in celebration of her 50th birthday. She said: "This was my first marathon and I loved it - a day I'll never forget. The support from the crowds from miles one to 26 was constant. A highlight for me was Tower Bridge where the noise from the spectators was almost overwhelming.
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“I am delighted that I was able to experience all of this whilst raising thousands with Beccy for Winchester Youth Counselling - an incredible sum from our very generous supporters - and I know WYC will put this money to very good use helping local young people access vital mental health therapies and services."
WYC business manager Tammy Whitehouse said: “The money raised will be a massive help for the charity. For example, that amount would cover the counsellor costs for more than 220 sessions. For reference, on average, WYC provides around 240 one-on-one counselling sessions each month so that’s a massive help.”
Beccy, 52, said: “It was an awesome experience. What a fantastic event. Charity shirts everywhere and 55 to 67m raised every year and you can see why.”
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