Ribble Valley running club's virtual loo roll relay raises an impressive £1,315 for worthwhile causes

Almost 50 runners laced their trainers and donned weird and wonderful costumes to take part in a virtual relay during lockdown.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

49 members of Running4CF - a fundraising running club for Whalley, Blackburn and Darwen - split into seven teams of seven runners to complete an eight week running challenge to boost funds for The Cystic Fibrosis Trust, Cancer Research UK and Headway.

The loo roll relay was the idea of Paul Richardson, from Billington. He and Anthony Platt, had began a challenge at the start of the year to complete a running event of at least a half marathon every month and the Chester Marathon. However, with so many events being cancelled and the club running no longer permitted due to the outbreak of the coronavirus, he decided all the club members needed a focus and launched the loo roll relay! Runners gave a donation to enter and extra donations were collected.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Club member, Linda Geldard, explained: "We usually meet as a running club every Monday evening, but since restrictions were put in place it’s been solo running only. One member, Paul Richardson, came up with the idea of a virtual loo roll relay to continue raising the awareness of those with cystic fibrosis and to give members a group focus and a bit of fun!

Paul Richardson thought of the virtual running challenge during lockdownPaul Richardson thought of the virtual running challenge during lockdown
Paul Richardson thought of the virtual running challenge during lockdown

"Seven weeks later and with weekly themes ranging from song titles to books to films, to fancy dress, every day one runner from each of the teams ran a minimum of three miles through Whalley, Billington, Ribchester, Clitheroe, Langho etc. For the fancy dress week, we had dinosaurs, elves, unicorns, Iron Man, Marilyn Monroe, Where’s wally etc etc. In tough times it’s made people smile and continued to raise the awareness of the need to raise funds to try and find a cure for this horrible illness."

She added: "We’ve had many running and fundraising events since the running club started five years ago. The final week, with a fancy dress theme has been one of the craziest, funniest heartwarming weeks for our club at a time when life is difficult for so many.

"Many runners are key workers, some were caring for elderly relatives, others were having to cope with their businesses being temporarily closed. This challenge was a most welcome distraction, which motivated us to get out and run after some difficult days in work."

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Anyone wishing to donate towards the cause can do so clicking hereIf anyone is interested in finding out more about the inclusive friendly running club, they can check out the Running4cf Facebook page.