By Erik Dawson
A 24-year-old will be running the Leicester half marathon on October 11 as part of his year of fundraising to raise money for Cancer Research UK and YoungMinds.
Brody Wilkinson said: “These are two charities close to my heart as I’ve had family and friends in previous years and recently struggle with issues that these two amazing charities help fight.”
The training teacher from Coventry plans to run the 13-mile race with his father and brother, as well as competing in a charity MMA (mixed martial arts) tournament, running the Tough Mudder and a 10k race later in the year.
The MMA charity fight night will be held in Coventry on October 31 and will be run by Ultra MMA, who will donate all funds raised to Cancer Research UK.
Brody is hoping to raise a target total of £1000 for each of the chosen charities by October.
Cancer Research UK’s team of scientists, who are based in Leicester, have made many advances in treating the disease, including making the discovery that chemicals found in food could one day be used as drugs to help stop cancer growing and spreading in people with a high risk of the disease.
The mental health charity YoungMinds provides over 1.4million people in the UK with vital advice, information and support online, including a crisis messenger service.
“I have been talking about getting involved (with charity fundraising) for a couple of months now and yesterday was the day I bit the bullet,” Brody said.
“As scared as I am, I count myself lucky not to be struggling with any of the issues these two charities help with so it’s time I use my body to help others while I actually can.”
If you would like to donate, there have been two donation pages set up on JustGiving, one for each of the charities here and here.
“I ask that anybody who donates to split whatever they give between the two amazing charities I’ll be representing throughout 2020 because they are both equally as important to society as well as myself,” added Brody.
