Young Jarrow boxers smash fundraising target with 48-mile David Goggins Challenge run

Eleven members of the Bilton Hall ABC on Taunton Avenue took up the 48 miles in 48 hours challenge. They did this by running four miles every four hours for two days.

The target figure was £1,200, but they have now passed the £1,500 mark thanks to fantastic support from the local community. The club is saying a big thank you to everyone who contributed.

Bilton Hall is a grass roots boxing club that has been helping kids stay safe, out of trouble and have a positive impact on their lives since the mid-1980s. It plays an important role in the community.

The young boxers aged 15 to 22 needed the money to buy five new punchbags. The club’s old ones are well past their best after many years of punishment.

The event is known as the David Goggins Challenge after the American ultramarathon runner who came up with the idea. It was taken up by athletes across the world. The four-mile course around Jarrow was run 12 times over a weekend.

Also taking part was one of the club’s coaches, Callum Larson, who organised the event. In 2020 he ran two marathons and two half-marathons in four days. Unfortunately he had to pull out with a sprained ankle 24 miles into the Goggins Challenge.

He said: “I heard a click and then the pain was just too much. There was only me out of the 11 who didn’t make it. A couple of them have hurt their ankles. One has injured an achilles.

“I’d like to say a big well done especially to Dan Hanley, Ben Boldon and Brodie Langley. They’re only 15 and managed the 48 miles without sleep. They had such heart and determination. They showed what the club’s all about.

“The money is going to help us massively. We’ll get new gloves and other things we need with the extra.

“The club is open to everyone and we’re hoping to start some outdoor sessions at the end of April.

“The next team bonding exercise we’re going to try is the Coast to Coast bike ride for the RVI kids’ unit.”

To donate to the club, visit www.gofundme.com/f/the-goggins-challenge.

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