soldier from Halifax has raised thousands of pounds for a local charity by running six marathons in six days.
Corporal Jordan Mather, from the Yorkshire Regiment, 1st Battalion, undertook the gruelling challenge from October 25-30 to raise money for the Halifax-based Yorkshire Children’s Trust, and ended up running a remarkable 168 miles.
The Trust provide grants to help families with sick or disabled children, towards the cost of medical treatment, equipment, home modifications or respite holidays.
The 25-year-old, from Southowram, said: “I only had limited training for it, so I just threw myself into it. Positive mental attitude, like I tell my recruits.
“I had a few niggles and pains as it went on, but the last one, I did it with a mate of mine, and after eight miles, my knees went, my feet went, I was dragging my left leg.
“I nearly collapsed four times, I started going dizzy. I could hardly see my mate.
“I expected it to be tough, but I told myself it was going to be tougher than it was so it didn’t seem as difficult.
“The worst thing was having to come into work. I was going to do it from Halifax to Kendal and back, but I got called to work down south, so I had to get up sometimes at 2am to run and then go into work.
“One day I had to do an eight-mile march carrying kit.
“It was hard going but the thought of who I was doing it for got me through it.
“I wanted to do it for something local, and for children. So I was just searching online and the Trust came up.
Jordan has raised more than £3,000 so far, but is expecting that figure to rise.
“I would do it again,” he added. “I’m going to something bigger next time.
