Denton man running 5 miles every day for a year to raise money for charity

A Denton man is running the equivalent distance from his hometown to Russia after being inspired by Manchester United star Marcus Rashford.

Paul Green, 41 and a dad of two, is raising money for Fareshare, a national charity network of food redistributors, who take surplus food and get it to those most in need.

He set himself the challenge of running 5 miles each and every day throughout 2021, totting up an impressive 1,825 miles in the process. In real terms, that adds up to running from his home in Denton to such far flung locations as Algeria, Turkey and the Arctic Circle.

Paul was inspired to do something after watching the Manchester United footballer Marcus Rashford’s documentary at the end of last year, which saw him campaign for free school meals provision to be expanded.

Paul explained: “When we watched it with my two children it really hit home that there were a lot of families struggling. Regardless of the pandemic they were struggling beforehand but there’s going to be a lot more now who are struggling and with two children myself anything that affects children hits home.

“There’s some children who are going hungry and they shouldn’t in this day and age. It really affected me in a way I didn’t think it would and it really affected the children and I said to my partner I just want to do something. I want to raise some money and contribute where I can.

“I’m running five miles a day but it’s nothing compared to the work that they are doing. You get up and you do the run and its over in 50 minutes but these charities work 14 hour days and I don’t feel like I’m doing enough.”

Already a keen marathon runner, Paul wanted to push himself to do something everyday, instead of one larger event like a marathon. He’s pledged to run each and every day come rain or shine and has already tackled snow and torrential rain amongst other challenges.

Paul’s been joined on his journey by well-wishers and family members. Even the children of his under-8’s football teams have joined him some nights to provide extra motivation. “It’s the company and enjoyment of changing the run up” Paul said.

“There’s nothing better than doing a run with some conversation from a 7-year-old. You just don’t know whats going to come out of their mouths.”

While 5 miles a day will take a physical toll, Paul says he’s used to such distances: “I’ve done marathons before but only ever trained for them. I work in Manchester so Denton is around ten kilometres away.

“I used to cycle to work or I’d run every now and again.

“I thought I’m 41 and if I could get injured pushing my body, I didn’t want to get injured straight away.

“The five miles seemed a good marker and when I worked it out at 1,825 miles for the year, I set that as my financial target. It seemed a good target to go for.”

Despite changing route often, running every day for a year means that Paul is repeating routes and sites often, but says it's given him time to appreciate his local area. “It’s been quite nice” he says. “I run along the canal quite a lot. The downside to Denton, in a nice way, is that its right in the middle of Hyde and Stockport so no matter where you run there is a hill! I’ve done quite a lot to Ashton but when we’ve been going walking with the children I’ve been running home so we’ve been to Stamford Park and I’ve ran home or we’ve been to Chorlton Water Park and I’ve run home from there or I’ve run to see my nana or something like that.

“I ran down towards Reddish Vale and that was like a mudbath, I was tiptoeing on that run to avoid mud patches.”

Paul’s local school, Russell Scott, are also getting in on the act, bringing Paul in to run their ‘daily mile’ with five classes, to complete his five miles one day.

Paul is already well on the way to his £1,825 target, having raised more than two thirds of the cash in just three months. If you’d like to help contribute to his challenge you can visit https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/paulgreen1979.

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