Joanne Is A Charity Champion

A charity fundraiser from Dukinfield has completed the biggest challenge of her life to raise money for the Brathay Trust.

Joanne Egerton, who represents the Hyde Village Striders, successfully completed the Brathay Trust 10in10, regarded as one of the hardest feats in the UK, which challenges participants to finish ten marathons in ten consecutive days around the same course as the Windermere Marathon.

Joanne, who initially started running in 2013, has smashed her initial target of £5,000 and is hoping for more donations to flood in over the coming weeks - especially as she will be tackling the full Tour of Tameside in two weeks’ time.

Joanne’s efforts in Windermere included a total running time of 57 hours and 27 minutes. She managed this incredible feat despite having to contend with a tight quadricep, strained ankle, sunburn and broken toenail - plus plenty of tears along the way.

However, Joanne says the physical pain and mental torture was well worth it, as plenty of children will benefit from the Brathay Trust’s efforts - just as Joanne did as a child. 

Speaking to Reporter Sport about her efforts, Joanna, who has since completed the Dovestone Diamond 10k and  a fell run, said: “I never underestimated the challenge, even though I knew how difficult it was going to be, but running for long periods in complete isolation on consecutive days really started to take its toll.

“I completed the first day and thought to myself, ‘I’ve got another nine of these to do’, so it was very much mentally challenging as it was physically.

“My body was struggling at times but once I changed what I was drinking during the run, and had a little bit more salt in my system, my cramp started to ease and things got a little easier.”

Joanne, who was challenged with different weather conditions over the ten days, ranging from blistering sunshine to torrential rain, said she became overwhelmed after seeing school children supporting her from the sidelines.

It was this level of support, combined with speaking to some of the Brathay Trust’s beneficiaries, that inspired her to finish the challenge when things became bleak.

Joanne is keeping her donation page open as she prepares to tackle all four stages of the Tour of Tameside - an event she says is a key date on her calendar.

The Tour kicks off on Thursday, June  16 with the X-Trail 10k, followed by the Hell on the Fell on Friday, The Hero Half Marathon on Saturday, and concluding with the Dr Ron Hyde 7 on Sunday.    

You can donate to Joanne’s cause via the following link: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Joanne-Egerton1