A runner is taking on a 220-mile challenge just one year after losing his father.
Joe Hemming, from Droitwich, will take on the Severn Way route in memory of his dad, Robert Hemming, who died at St Richard’s Hospice in Worcester.
Beginning on June 5, he will cover between 33 and 43 miles each day, finishing in Bristol on June 10—one year to the day since his father’s passing.
Mr Hemming said: “This challenge is not just about the miles, but about honouring the strength my dad showed and giving back to the hospice that supported him, and us, so compassionately in his final days.
“I’m now within touching distance of the start line.
“The training has been tough.
“Managing injury setbacks and waking up at 4.30am to smash out half marathons before work has truly tested me.
“As the run draws closer, so does a massive personal milestone.
“The day I cross the finish line in Bristol will mark exactly 365 days since my dad passed away.
“In those 365 days, the incredible team at St Richard’s Hospice has carried on caring for more than 3,000 people in our community, providing unwavering support to patients and their loved ones when they need it most.
“That’s why I’m stepping up to the start line to give back to the people who give so much.”
Mr Hemming will begin the challenge in Powys, finishing in Bristol.
Supporters can cheer him on in Worcestershire on June 8, when he runs from Bridgnorth to Worcester, ending at Browns on the Quay, and on June 9, as he runs from Worcester to Frampton on Severn.
He has already raised more than £2,000 for St Richard’s Hospice.
St Richard’s Hospice is an independent charity offering free, expert care for adults with an illness that cannot be cured, and support for their loved ones and carers.
The hospice supports more than 3,000 people each year across Worcestershire and relies on donations, gifts in Wills, retail and events for the majority of its funding.
The remaining income is provided by the NHS.
