From Trentham to Florence

Staff at Staffordshire’s Trentham Gardens have set
themselves a marathon charity challenge in October – walking and running from the popular tourist attraction to Florence in Italy.

But the 884-mile trek will be completed without leaving the boundaries of the Trentham Estate on the edge of Stoke-on-Trent, with this particular challenge starting and finishing at one of the finest
Italianate gardens outside of Italy.

Taking inspiration from Trentham’s famous ‘Perseus with the Head of Medusa’ statue – the only true copy of an original 16th-century masterpiece located in Florence’s piazza della Signoria – staff members aim to cover the total distance between the two statues.

One of the most famous statues in Florence, it shows Perseus standing over the body of Medusa and holding the recently decapitated head of the monster in one hand and his sword in the other. 

Trentham’s replica – proudly standing at the head of the Italian Gardens overlooking the lake - was one of the biggest freestanding bronze sculptures in the UK after being commissioned by the 2nd Duke of Sutherland around 1840.

To achieve their ambitious target – raising money for
three local charities – those taking part will be running, walking and jogging around the Capability Brown designed lake at the heart of the historic Estate.

While it is actually 883.27 miles as the crow flies from
Trentham to Florence, Trentham has rounded it up for the charity challenge.

And with a lap of the lake at Trentham racking up 2.2 miles, the 884 mile target will equal 401.8 laps throughout the month of October – an average of 13 laps per day.