Our supporter James Blakemore is taking on one of the toughest challenges of his life to raise funds to help seriously ill children and their families. 

James Blackmore, from Chirk Bank, will be doing the Dave Goggins Challenge, created by the American ultramarathon runner, at the end of March meaning he will be running four miles, every four hours for 48 hours.  

“It’s both a physical and mental challenge of endurance,” said 30-year-old James, who is a self-confessed novice to running. 

“I’ve been training for a while, but I didn’t realise quite how tough it was. In September I hit it too hard and got tendonitis, so had to have six weeks off.  

“But I’ve been training better since and am hopefully going to be well prepared.” 

'A great charity'

James, who has family that have used our services at Hope House, has said having his wife Sian and two young boys Arthur and Walter cheering him on has spurred him through the training.  

“Hope House is a great local charity and their support is vital to those that need them,” said James, who works at Arla Foods in Oswestry. 

“I can’t think of a better place to fundraise for and knowing where the money will be going will spur me on to complete the challenge.” 

Cat Dowdeswell, fundraiser, said: “It is people like James, and all of those who have been fundraising for us over the last year, which have meant that we are still able to be here for seriously ill children and their families.  

“We wish James the very best of luck, this is going to be quite the challenge.” 

James is not far from hitting his fundraising target and hopes to have surpassed it by the time he takes on the challenge on March 25.

If you would like to get out and help raise money for Hope House, then you can take part in the Take A Hike! event on March 28, where hundreds will be pulling on their walking shoes and walking a 10-mile route virtually.