A GROUP of friends who are running more than 216 miles from Basingstoke to Liverpool in honour of someone very special to them have raised nearly £30,000.

Mark Dolby, Jose 'Nacho' Messa, Matthew Hope and Robin Frowd are taking on a challenge dubbed 'You'll Never Run Alone' (YNRA) to celebrate the life of Robin's wife, Debbie, described as a "force of nature," who died of breast cancer on December 14 last year.

Debbie grew up in Liverpool and loved the city, its people and the football club - because of this - the group of friends have decided to honour her and raise money for two charities that helped look after her.

So far, ahead of the run in December, the group have raised more than £26,000 for St. Michael's Hospice and Victoria's Promise.

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You'll Never Run AloneYou'll Never Run Alone (Image: Sarah Gaunt)

Mark explained how they "want to try and double it."

He added: "It's about momentum, we're determined to make a difference to families. We are proud of the impact that these charities have on people - they don't get the recognition they deserve.

"I lost both of my parents at St. Michael's Hospice, so this is personal to me and we were lucky to have been given a presentation from Fiona at Victoria's Promise, it's a case of giving back and creating a legacy."

Mark explained that Debbie was a very caring woman who always wanted to help others, and the men want to celebrate her life and be able to help others in doing so.

He said: "Debbie was a force of nature, she was always at the front of the queue to help out. She did anything and everything to help, whether it was small things like helping with the school or sports clubs, or bigger things like how she would offer her help to talk to people with cancer."

The idea for the charity project, which will see the men cover 212.6 miles on foot, came about while Mark and Nacho were out on a run by themselves. The run will begin at St. Michael's Hospice in Basingstoke and will see the friends head up north to Anfield, home of Liverpool Football Club.

"It was six months in the making," Mark added, "Myself and Nacho talked about it, then we talked to Robin, who got behind the idea.

"We want to show her three boys how important she was. She fought cancer for 10 years and we want to celebrate her life.

"She was from Liverpool and supported the team, as do her boys, so we called it 'You'll Never Run Alone' instead of 'You'll Never Walk Alone', which is the club's anthem."

A director of a financial planning firm in Reading by day, Mark got into running during lockdown, and since then has participated in various events including a run across a dessert in Jordan.

However, he says this challenge is "way beyond anything I've done.

"Training has really consisted of running once or twice a week, to help get the distance up, but I'm not sure there is a lot that can prepare you for this."

He explained how St. Michael's Hospice needs £15,000 per day to cover costs, and hopes to raise even more before the challenge begins on December 8.

Readers can find out more about the challenge, which is taking place from December 8 to December 14, by visiting www.ynra.co.uk  

Readers can donate to the cause by visiting www.justgiving.com/team/ynrasmh and www.justgiving.com/team/ynravp