Sunderland fundraiser sets 30 challenges to support Ryhope hospice

Anthony at Segedunum in Northumberland for his Hadrian’s Wall challenge/Stride PR.
Anthony at Segedunum in Northumberland for his Hadrian’s Wall challenge/Stride PR.

A Sunderland fundraiser has set himself 30 challenges in a bid to secure £30,000 for a Ryhope hospice.

Anthony McDermott, from Barnes, Sunderland decided to give something back to his local hospice when he turned 30.

It comes after his father-in-law, Lewis Binyon, received treatment for bowel and pancreatic cancer at St Benedict’s Hospice, in Ryhope, Sunderland.

Mr McDermott, who works as an account manager for Sun FM and is a member of the Sunderland Strollers running club, set himself the challenge of raising the money throughout 2016.

“I wanted to do something a bit special with turning 30 and give something back to the hospice at the same time because they’ve been brilliant, so I came up with raising £30,000, in 30 events in my 30th year,” he said.

The fundraiser’s first event entailed him running the length of Hadrian’s Wall, from Bowness on Solway to Carlisle – an 87 mile, 30-plus hour marathon feat which saw him running across an entire weekend, including having to return home for a couple of hours when his teammate Scott Baker was injured.

Mr McDermott added: “I grabbed a couple of hours sleep and I could have stayed where I was, but I thought I’m just going to go and finish it.

“My feet were blistered to bits and we had about a seven mile detour because of the flooding in Carlisle, but it was great to finally finish on the Sunday afternoon.”

The 30-year-old has already raised more than £600 with his first challenge.

Other events lined up include being waxed, a sky dive, the Sunderland Half Marathon, the Great North Run, Edinburgh Marathon, a Tough Mudder and the Stadium of Light step challenge.

Catrina Flynn, fundraising manager at St Benedict’s Hospice, said: “We’re so grateful to Anthony.

“He’s set himself a real challenge – not only to deliver every time but also to come up with 30 ways for him to raise the money.

“We’ll be cheering him on every step of the way.”

Do you have a challenge for Anthony?

Follow St Benedict’s Hospice on Facebook and Twitter and make your suggestions.

To make a donation log onto here.

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