The South Tyneside fundraisers running 1000km to raise cash for vital PPE

A group of South Tyneside residents are running 10k every day to raise money to fund vital protective equipment for frontline workers.
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The team of ten fundraisers will be using their Government-mandated, daily hour of exercise to run 10k for the next 10 days - covering a total of 1000km (more than 620 miles) between them.

The 1000k challenge is dedicated to raising as much money as possible to fund much-needed personal protective equipment (PPE) for those NHS workers and carers, on the frontline of the coronavirus crisis.

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The team - a number of whom are members of Hebburn Martial Arts club - consists of Simon Atkins, Andrew Lowery, Paul Middleton, James Middleton, Alan Kinsey, Chris Hope, Sarah Hope, Aidan McCaffery, Peter McCall and Carol Barron.

Team captain, Simon Atkins.Team captain, Simon Atkins.
Team captain, Simon Atkins.

Since getting underway on Saturday, April 18 they have already more than doubled their target with over £2,600 raised.

Team captain, Simon Atkins, 46, who lives in Biddick Hall, South Shields, said: “Everyday we are hearing stories about the lack of PPE supplies.

“We’re just trying to do our little bit to help raise as much as we can for frontline workers.”

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Simon Atkins, Andrew Lowery, Paul Middleton, James Middleton, Alan Kinsey, Chris Hope, Sarah Hope, Aidan McCaffery, Peter McCall,  Carol Barron and Kevin Straugheir are running 10k every day to raise funds for much-needed PPE.Simon Atkins, Andrew Lowery, Paul Middleton, James Middleton, Alan Kinsey, Chris Hope, Sarah Hope, Aidan McCaffery, Peter McCall,  Carol Barron and Kevin Straugheir are running 10k every day to raise funds for much-needed PPE.
Simon Atkins, Andrew Lowery, Paul Middleton, James Middleton, Alan Kinsey, Chris Hope, Sarah Hope, Aidan McCaffery, Peter McCall, Carol Barron and Kevin Straugheir are running 10k every day to raise funds for much-needed PPE.

Each team member will be running individually, while strictly keeping to the social distancing guidelines and remaining at least two metres apart from other people.

In keeping with the Government guidelines, they will be limited to one hour a day to complete the distance.

Simon, a dad-of-two, added: “A lot of the team members are quite fit but we have never done anything like this before.

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“It’s going to be tough - a few of us are already feeling it in the legs - but it’s just about doing it for the cause - even if we are just walking by the end.”

“These brave frontline soldiers need their equipment to do their jobs and we are going to do our best to make sure they get it. They are putting their lives at risk to treat patients with Covid-19.”

To donate visit the team’s Just Giving page

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