DESPITE nearly being killed in a road traffic accident in August, a Frome runner has since been back on his feet and has raised £1,764 for St John Ambulance by running 100 miles over four events.
Richard Riley was hit by a car whilst out running, and was airlifted to hospital where he spent a day and a half in a coma. But he has bounced back from the accident, using his “treadmill marathons” to prepare for his place in the Virgin London Marathon this year, while also raising money for the organisations which helped save his life.
Richard has been running his treadmill marathons in Frome and neighbouring towns since November, taking his treadmill into the town and running the marathon distance of 26.2 miles on the spot. He says he is delighted now that he has broken his money-raising target for the challenges.
“Four months of fundraising have paid off.” he said. “I’ve reached my target for St John Ambulance and exceeded my pledge! The fantastic total is £1,764.75, eight percent more than my target of £1,625.
“We had amazing result from our fundraising event at the Sainsbury store in Frome. Shoppers donated an amazing £486.05 during my run on February 18th. This is the best we have ever done from a treadmill marathon and thanks must go to Brian Buckland and the staff at Sainsbury’s for their help.
“I’ve run a total of just under 105 miles over four treadmill marathon events and received huge amounts of support from Rebecca and the team at St John Ambulance, whom I can’t thank enough.
“The only thing left to do is keep up my training for the Virgin London Marathon on April 22nd, which I hope to complete in around 3 hours 40 minutes.
“After the London Marathon I shall next be taking part in the Bupa 10k which takes place on part of the marathon route. I’ll be running the 10k in aid of Great Western Air Ambulance who rescued me following the accident which I was involved in last year. I’m proud to run for the GWAAC and will keep everyone updated with my plans which so far involve a sponsored run from Frome to Bristol, the same distance that the GWAAC travelled to pick me up. Only I won’t be travelling in a helicopter this time!”
