By Andrew Brown Stand Up For Southport
Southport marathon man John Curd is getting ready to run 1,000 miles – the equivalent of running across the Amazon Rainforest.- at the age of 79 years old.
John, who has run 130 full marathons and was honoured for his charity work at the 2023 Grand Pride Of Sefton Awards, is taking on the challenge to raise funds for Southport Lifeboat.
He said: “I’m still running for charity at the age of 79. Some of you will have seen me on Granada Reports last year.
“I’m not as fast as I was 40 years ago, but I’m still plodding along!
“Anyway, I have decided to take on the Amazon Rainforest Virtual Challenge with The Conqueror Challenges.
“It will involve me running 1,000 miles, which is the equivalent of running across the Amazon Rainforest. I’m doing it to raise funds for Southport Lifeboat, which saves so many lives on our beautiful coast.”
You can donate to John Curd via his Facebook link here.
John said: “All of my running for this challenge will be done in and around Southport over the next few months, so some of you will no doubt see me on my travels!
“Over the decades I have been privileged enough to have run 130 full marathons – a marathon is 26.2 miles – for charity and hundreds of half marathons for charity.
“This includes a dozen London Marathons, the New York Marathon and the Barcelona Marathon, as well as 39 Great North Run half marathons.
“I still go up to the north east to do the Great North Run half marathon every year… and I will be 80 in January.
“Southport Lifeboat is completely independent of the RNLI and relies on our donations to continue to provide a 24-hour rescue service… all the way from the River Ribble to the River Mersey.
“The brave members of the Trust who risk their lives to keep us safe are volunteers and receive no financial remuneration whatsoever. They save scores of lives off our coast every single year. “They are heroes and I feel that I must do what I can to support them.
“I have raised money for them in the past, but every pound counts.
“Please donate what you can so that this vital service can continue.
“Wish me luck!”
During his career, John worked as a psychiatric nurse at Rainhill and at the Old Liverpool Sefton General Hospital.
He began work as a Junior Clerical worker at Prescot BICC Ltd 1960 before starting with the NHS in 1969.
In 2023 he was honoured as a Finalist in the Charity Champion Award (sponsored by Communication Plus) in the Grand Pride Of Sefton Awards.
It costs £60,000 to keep Southport Lifeboat functioning all year round.
Southport Lifeboat is funded entirely through public donations, and is independent of the RNLI.
There are other ways you can help the charity continue to save lives, including joining LifeboatLotto or online donations.
For more details about the emergency service, or if you would like to donate, please visit their website:
http://www.southport-lifeboat.co.uk/
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