Hi,

 

Thank you for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

 

I am 42 years old, I have three children (Connor, Luca and Dylan) and I am married to Emily who is a Teacher.

 

I work for Hunters Property Group in York, I live in Bedale North Yorkshire and I have recently relocated from North London.

 

I consider myself to be a normal sort of guy who works hard and plays by the rules, I enjoy all the nice things in life and I never give up on my dreams.

 

Just like my Father on all accounts I have been blessed with good health, I have always kept myself fit and I have never smoked but my Father now has cancer.

 

Academics at the University of Bristol found that physical activity significantly reduces the risk of developing bowel cancer and may even help prevent breast, prostate, lung and endometrial cancer. Moderate activity also helps patients recover from cancer.

 

Could there ever be a better reason to get up, get out and get running?

 

To play my part in this I am running The Cleveland Way (109 miles) in four days back to back (1st - 4th of December 2011) to raise money and awareness for Cancer Research UK.

 

My Journey will begin in Helmsley on the 1st of December and finish in Filey on the 4th of December. The route will cover some of the most beautiful and amazing but challenging Yorkshire countryside and each leg of the run will take between four and five hours to complete.

 

The Cleveland Way challenge run (109 miles in 4 days) will resume in the New Year!

 

The four stages of my run...

 

Stage 1: Helmsley - Carlton Bank - 29 Miles. (Sponsored by Scruffy Little Cat - Personalised Gifts For The One You Love - @ScruffyLilCat)

Stage 2: Carlton Bank - Saltburn By The Sea - 28 Miles. (Sponsored by Ann Gibson from The Spa Hotel in Saltburn By The Sea)

Stage 3: Saltburn By The Sea - Robin Hoods Bay - 27 Miles. (Sponsored by Suz Yadalle - @ExamplesNo1Fan and Ishbel banks in memory of Stanley)

Stage 4: Robin Hoods Bay - Filey - 26 Miles. (Sponsored by Janet Barrell - @janet_barrel)

 

Check out the links below for more details on The Cleveland Way and on the route I will be taking...

  

www.thespahotelsaltburn.co.uk 

 

www.nationaltrail.co.uk/clevelandway/index.asp?PageId=1

 

www.sherpavan.com/accomm_booking/maps.asp?trail=CX

 

 

Training updates...

 

Saturday the 15th of October - 3 hour run between Osmotherley and Sutton Bank starting with 4 miles of technical and undulating climbing before hitting the high trail towards Sutton Bank. The views are stunning from the high trail (on a good day) and should help take my mind off the pain I will be feeling as I edge towards 2 and a half hours of cross country running. The last half hour on the way back though is all technical downhill and just what you need to finish off a good fell run.

 

Sunday the 30th of October - 3 hour run between Osmotherley and Chopgate (great name) starting with a 1 mile technical climb before dropping back down in to the valley again. This section is probably the most technical and undulating and will test even the very best fell runners. Today I will pass through Carlton Bank which is at the end of stage 1 so I will have to remember to keep going and not give it a stage finish victory salute. The sun is already out in North Yorkshire so the views should be great - I just hope my legs match the views.

 

Saturday the 12th of November - Helmsley to Osmotherley (22 miles) and then on to Carlton Bank (29 miles) to finish. This will be my first full stage test run. The last 7 miles of this stage will be the toughest and most technical of the whole run as you climb up and over the Cleveland Hills before navigating a treacherous set of stone steps which take you down to the Lord Stones Cafe high up on Carlton Bank. If I can complete this stage the remaining 3 will be a walk in the park - fingers crossed.

 

Saturday the 26th of November - My final run out before the challenge run begins on the 1st of December will be a gentle 2 hour run around Great Ayton, Kildale and Roseberry Topping. This run will be a test of my strength and technical ability rather than a training run and I am hoping that I feel fresh, lively and ready to go. It's too late now to build up any more strength and stamina and all of a sudden it feels very real. I can now only pray for good weather and look after myself well for a few days - here we go.

  

What can you do to help...

 

You are more than welcome to join me for a "morale boosting" run at any point along the route be it for 1 mile, 2 miles, 10 or 20 miles.

So if you fancy stretching your legs and want to join me then just let me know by sending me a DM via Twitter at @Run4Cancer2011.

If you do not use Twitter you can email me at matthew.wells@huntersnet.co.uk or you can call or txt me on my mobile number which is 07713392741.

 

For every Tweeter who follows @Run4Cancer2011 my family, friends and employer (Hunters Property Group - @HuntersHomes @HuntersTheBiz) will ensure that £1 is donated to Cancer Research UK.

 

You can also make your own contribution right here at JustGiving and help me achieve my Twitter driven fundraising target.

 

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

 

At some point in our lives cancer will affect us all so please, please dig deep and make a small donation now.

 

Keep on running and saving lives!

 

Regards,

 

Matt Wells - Run4Cancer2011.