Hundreds of runners from across the world join in Leeds man's fundraising half-marathon

Craig Whiteley, 56, who is a coaching assistant and team leader at Rothwell Harriers running club decided to organise 'Craig's Half Marathon' to help motivate club members who had seen races cancelled in the Covid-19 lockdown.

But as word spread among the running community - largely through social media - interest grew and a total of 450 runners ended up taking part from across England and beyond, including Indonesia, New Zealand, Australia and California.

Each setting off from their own homes on Sunday at 9.30am, the event - which had no time constraints - also raised money for St Gemma's Hospice in Moortown, a cause close to Craig's heart.

Craig, from Morley, said: "With people being in lockdown I thought I'd do a half marathon for people to join.

"We were getting really good numbers but then it got bigger and bigger and people from around the world joined in. They just started inboxing me. We had 450 runners doing it."

Each runner was sent a race number with 'Craig's Half Marathon' on and started and finished at the own home.

Craig said: "We didn't time it - I think that helped us get more runners. They could just get out and run and not worry about getting a good time. People who have never done a half-marathon before just went out and did it.

"I bumped into five other people doing it. Others said they were bumping into people doing it too. It just got bigger and bigger. I can't believe how big it got.

"People said I have helped them get motivated during lockdown and that's what I did it for - to help people get out during lockdown and obviously raising a bit of money for St Gemma's too."

Craig has raised over £20,000 for St Gemma's Hospice over the past four years and previously featured in the Yorkshire Evening Post in 2017 when he earned the coveted World Marathon Majors medal.

The medal is given to those who complete six world-renowned marathons - Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago and New York.

He decided to embark on that challenge as a bucket list for fundraising for St Gemma's in memory of his best friend John Smith who died from pancreatic cancer in 2012.

Craig said so far Sunday's 'Craig's Half Marathon' had raised over 3,000. He said: "And more might come in. I just love St Gemma's, it means a lot to me."

Maria White, community fundraiser at St Gemma's Hospice, said: “On behalf of everyone at St Gemma’s I would like to say huge thank you to Craig and over 400 runners worldwide who recently ran a “socially distanced” half marathon to raise funds for the hospice.

"We are incredibly grateful to Craig, a long standing supporter of St Gemma’s, for organising the event. Craig has previously raised over £20,000 towards the expert care and support for our patients and their families.”

To support Craig’s fundraising https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/CraigsHalf-Marathon

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