An avid runner is nearing the end of a challenge to run every day in 2024, with a new person joining him each day.
Simon Williamson began his mission on January 1, pushing his mother, who suffers from Parkinson's disease, five kilometres in her wheelchair in Hampshire.
The aim is to raise £15,000 for Parkinson's UK.
Approaching the 300th consecutive day on October 26, Mr Williamson has clocked up nearly 250 hours of running, covering 2,424km.
This includes an elevation gain equivalent to three times the height of Mount Everest.
As a director for DCBL, Mr Williamson has been running regularly since 2013, initially setting a personal target of running 100 marathons in 10 years and raising £15,000 for Parkinson's UK.
He achieved this in eight years and has now completed 120 official marathons.
His new campaign in 2024 aims to run each day with a different person, spreading awareness of the power of community and the health benefits of regular exercise.
He is well on his way to achieving his further £15,000 fundraising target.
Mr Williamson has been joined by Jimmy Adams, the ex-Hampshire cricketer, Adam Holland, a Guinness World Record holder, and Steve Edwards, the world record holder for running 1,000 official marathons in the fastest average finish time.
He has also run with Parkinson’s UK chief executive Caroline Rassell, and the organisation’s chair, Gary Shaughnessy, who was diagnosed with Parkinson's in 2015, plans to take part in the coming weeks.
Mr Williamson said: "I’ve been astonished by how much goodwill there is around running. We all need to move as much as we can, and there is a wonderful community out there trying to make that happen.
"My mother was always such a hard-working and active person and Parkinson’s continues to take a lot from her.
"I’m doing this for her – to raise awareness of a debilitating condition and give something back to a charity doing vital work."
Mr Williamson is still seeking running partners for the remainder of the year and is keen to add a few more famous faces.
He is set to complete his 366-day challenge on New Year’s Eve at Center Parcs, where he’ll be spending time with his family.
He will also host an end-of-challenge celebration and fundraiser at The Grand, Southampton, on January 17, 2025, welcoming back his 300-plus running partners.
To track his journey and donate to Simon’s #syrun365, visit his Just Giving page.
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