CRAIG’S BLOG: Two months in and a birthday run under my belt

Craig Goldsworthy is running every single day in 2023 to raise funds for St Catherine’s in memory of his friend, who was cared for by our CNS team at her home.

He’s being joined by a guest runner each week, and is tackling all weathers in his mammoth fundraising feat for our charity! You can read his previous blogs here.

Two months in and I am still going strong! I can’t believe it’s March already and up to week 9. So far I have covered a distance of 191.65 miles.

Covid caught up with me in February, but I toughed it out and apart from a tightness in my chest, I was good to go.

Thankfully, I haven’t had much trouble with injury. However, I had to book a sports therapy session with Rob Mather at RJM Therapy last week, as I had a sore glute which is slowly getting better. As for the rest of me, I am feeling good and looking forward to another 10 months of social running.

I have been blessed with the wonderful generosity of 100+ runners who have pledged to dedicate their time to put on their running shoes and spend time with me throughout the year, so I’m not always running solo. For this I am truly grateful and my running calendar is virtually full – I’m running every day and am joined by others on a weekly basis.

Thank you to everyone who has supported me so far, and to all you wonderful people who have donated; you’ve managed to push my target over 400% and raise more than £2,000 so far! It would be amazing if this reached 1000% and I think it’s achievable if the kindness of people over the last few months is anything to go by.

It is an absolute privilege that I am able to support St Catherine’s this way, and to do it in memory of Michelle, an amazing lady.

Please find below a record of my running so far, including pictures of runners who agreed to support me over various distances. Michelle’s husband Lee has committed himself to run every Monday, along with his close friend Matt.

This usually commences at 6.15am and so far has been 3 cold, dark miles each time, but the good company makes it an easy 25 minutes. We also had a mini celebration for my birthday through Clayton-Le-Woods in week 3.

• If you would like to donate or write a message of encouragement to Craig, please click here

Week 1: I was joined by Sarah Mercer around the original Cuerden Valley Parkrun route
Week 2: Chosen by Joanne Shannon on a loop round Leyland
Week 3: Lee, Matt and I had a mini celebration for my birthday through Clayton-Le-Woods. I was also joined by Lisa Franks who selected a run through Worden Park
Week 4: I was joined by David Heywood and George Watmough on two separate runs round Leyland
Week 5: Kathryn Abbot and Lesley Nixon with a loop through Cuerden Valley/Buckshaw Village
Week 6: Lucie Ward on a route through Cuerden Valley Park
Week 7: Lynn Duckworth on a loop round Leyland. I was also joined by Stacey Boyce through Worden Park’s trail along the river Lostock
Week 8: Dave Park and Matt Wilson, where we were joined by Lee on a route along the Leeds/Liverpool Canal and through Wheelton. I was also joined by Scott Ainge at Witton Parkrun

Look out for the next blog at the end of April!

Craig is a 48-year-old apprenticeships tutor from Leyland. He lives with his wife Helen and daughters Molly and Evie. His friend Michelle Walker lived in Leyland with her husband Lee and daughters Ava and Ella, and worked as an admin assistant at Progress Housing Group. She was cared for by St Catherine’s at home following a diagnosis of bowel cancer. 

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