Droitwich man ready for 220-mile running challenge in memory of his dad
Joe Hemming gets things underway today (5 June) on his run over the entire length of the River Severn from start to finish
A man from Worcestershire has said he's excited to get his running challenge started today (5 June) which will take him from the start of the River Severn to where it meets the sea.
33-year-old Joe Hemming from Droitwich will look to cover around 220 miles on his journey across six days.
He's doing it in memory of his dad Robert who passed away on the 10 June last year and in aid of St Richard's Hospice who cared for him.
The route will see him travel along the Severn Way, setting off from Plynlimon and making his way along to places such as Worcester, where he's planning to end day four and start the fifth one, before going on to finish in Bristol on the sixth day.
"When I cross that finish line it'll actually be the one year anniversary of my dad's passing," he said.
So I feel like it's a double pertinent day because I've got the year anniversary of my dad's passing but I've also got that jubilant experience of knowing that I've completed 220 miles raising money for this incredible charity that did so much for our family."
Joe is also a army veteran having spent 10 years serving after joining in 2009 when he was 16-years-old, being involved in operations in places such as Afghanistan and Kenya.
He said he's been putting in the miles ahead of it all, overcoming minor injury setbacks on route, and has been really keen to just get on with it.
"I'm really excited, the nerves have been building up I think for a couple of weeks knowing that it's been getting closer, I know the task is huge and I just want to start clocking off some miles and start chipping away at it," he said.
"I'm really looking forward to getting into Worcestershire, running through my home county, seeing some familiar faces along the route.
"Something I'm just keeping in the back of my mind though is that the path doesn't always follow the river and I don't want to take a wrong turn because any miles that get added on to 220 will be quite painful."
He's so far raised nearly £3,000, with his full route for the challenge below:
• 5 June: Plynlimon to Abermule (36 Miles)
• 6 June: Abermule to Shrewsbury (37 Miles)
• 7 June: Shrewsbury to Bridgnorth (35 Miles)
• 8 June: Bridgnorth to Worcester (33 Miles)
• 9 June: Worcester to Frampton on Severn (43 Miles)
• 10 June: Frampton to Bristol Cathedral (36 Miles)