Richard closes in on charity milestone

An Audenshaw athlete is aiming to raise £10,000 for cancer charities by running the Berlin Marathon in September. 

Richard Bradbury, 53, has tackled nine marathons since taking up the sport six years ago, and runs in memory of his brother, Tim, who died of the disease in 2011. 

That was just a year after Tim finished the London Marathon in aid of a meningitis charity, a virus he had previously beaten. 

“If I can raise about another £300 on top of what I've already got this year I'll have raised over £10,000 in total,” Richard says, who ran the Leeds Marathon last month, and donates his funds to Tenovus Cancer Care and Worldwide Cancer Research. 

The keen biker has also completed several half marathons and three ultra marathons, including the Manchester to Liverpool Ultra 50 and a lap of the rugged 37.73-mile Isle of Man TT Mountain Course.  

He often runs in a tutu and scrum cap as Tim was an enthusiastic dancer and represented Lancashire Under-21s in rugby union. 

However, Richard also credits running with drastically improving his own health.  

“I’ve come a long way since ‘big me’ 20 years ago!” Richard says, who slimmed down after Tim inspired him to take up running in 2018. 

Although he won’t be taking part in 2024’s The Tour to concentrate on preparing for Berlin, Richard will still have some involvement. 

“My partner and I will be volunteer marshalling this year,” he says, after competing in the 2022 event. 

The Tour takes place between June 13-16 throughout Tameside. 

Created by the late Ron Hill MBE in 1981, this year’s edition features four gruelling races on consecutive days.  

The X-Trail 10k is the opening challenge, followed by the aptly named Hell on the Fell and the Hero Half Marathon, before rounding off with the traditional closer, the Dr Ron Hyde 7 on Sunday.