Basingstoke mum supports three hospitals during pandemic with running challenge

Lynsey Appleton, 33, was a rookie runner when she started going jogging during the pandemic’s first wave in March 2020.

The mother-of-four from Popley said it was her coping mechanism at a stressful time.

She told the Gazette: “I wanted to get some fitness. My husband is shielding, so as he’s at home I can go out and run. I have a really great support network.”

Lynsey runs a parent, baby and toddler group in Basingstoke called Lynsey’s Little Stars.

She was able to open for three weeks prior to the January lockdown, and said the parents were “really grateful” to have that support network available to them, particularly first time mothers.

While she isn’t able to open, she wanted to use her time as productively as possible, and so she set herself a running challenge, and also hopes to take part in “silly” tasks - such as fancy dress to the supermarket - to raise more money when restrictions are eased.

“I have been putting up videos and updates on Facebook and the GoFundMe page,” she said.

“I’m still new to it, but I run three times a week, and today I ran socially-distanced with my friend and so I have been encouraging her to get started with running too.”

Each week, Lynsey challenges herself to increase to distance, and last week managed three 6 kilometre runs.

“I was really pleased with that!” she said.

“While I have this time to to be at home and stay safe, it’s important to still try and do something I enjoy. I will build up each time, each week I am trying to push myself. I can’t get distracted, because I have a challenge to hit.”

Lynsey is raising money for the hospitals in Basingstoke, Andover and Winchester, and was emotional as she spoke about her chosen cause.

“What’s going on, it’s devastation right now. The hospitals are struggling at the moment. I feel for them and I thought, what can I do? Well, I can run.”

For more information or to donate, visit: gofundme.com/f/raising-money-for-3-local-hospitals