Marathon mayor goes the extra mile for charities

The Mayor of Trafford is going the extra mile to raise money for good causes – by taking on the Manchester Marathon.

Cllr Laurence Walsh will be running the 26-mile feat of endurance as part of a team relay, with all the money raised going to his mayoral charities.

Cllr Walsh said:

“I’ve always wanted to do the marathon and so I started training last year.

“Unfortunately, my dodgy knees have prevented me from running any more than 12 miles but I’ve managed to put a team together so we can do it as a relay.”

Starting for the mayor’s team is Cllr Walsh’s mayoral assistant Matthew Madeley. Next is Cllr Walsh’s step daughter Hazel McCormick, followed by Hazel’s boyfriend Mark Rees. Cllr Walsh will then take the team home on the anchor leg.

He said: “I’m doing the glory run at the end. My only issue is that I want to stand out a bit so people know that it’s the mayor running. I don’t think wearing the mayoral chains would be suitable but maybe I can find some bling that will make it clear the mayor is running!”

This year’s marathon starts and ends near Lancashire Cricket Club’s Old Trafford ground, taking in Manchester city centre. It then goes out through Stretford, Sale, Timperley and Altrincham before returning back to Old Trafford for the finish.

Cllr Walsh’s relay team are planning to complete the marathon in around four hours. Money raised by sponsoring the mayor’s team will go to Trafford Trussell Trust Food bank and Gorse Hill Studios, the creative youth arts charity.

To donate to the mayor’s team, please visit his justgiving page: https://tinyurl.com/mayormarathon.

Posted on Wednesday 23rd March 2022