A schoolboy from the Appleby area has smashed a fundraising target and acquired a new enthusiasm for running in the process.
Six-year-old John Dobson, from Brackenber, was aiming to raise £100 in sponsorship for the Great North Air Ambulance Service when he took on the charity’s Race to the Base challenge. This involves fundraisers covering distances equivalent to those which the service’s critical care team travel while responding to callouts.
The Warcop School pupil — inspired by the help given to his grandfather in Yorkshire by GNAAS — chose to run the shortest challenge distance, of 32 miles, with the idea being that he would complete this by the end of May.
But John has proved so keen, that he completed his 32 miles in just 17 days and won his category in the Howgill Harriers fun run in the process!
And in another fantastic achievement, he has raised sponsorship of more than £700.
John’s mum, Gemma, said he has been covering a mile before school each day, and was also running with a club at school and had completed two 5km runs.
John has told her that he wants the money he raises go to buy a new helicopter for GNAAS.
Although a fit lad, he had never previously shown any interest in running as such, but now wants to race with the juniors at Howgill Harriers.
She added: “He’s been out every morning, even when it’s been pouring down. When he’s felt a bit tired he’s just had a look at how much he’s raised and then cracked on.”
