Cllr Cahal Burke Completes Marathon Challenge for Yorkshire Regiment

In April Cllr Cahal Burke (Lib Dem, Lindley Ward) crossed the finishing line outside Old Trafford completing the 37th Greater Manchester Marathon.

This was the final leg of Cahal’s marathon fundraising challenge which had already seen him complete Blackpool Half Marathon and the Great North West Half Marathon earlier in the year as part of raising money and awareness for the Mayor’s Charity Appeal which this year is the Yorkshire Regiment Benevolent Trust.

Having taken running up three years ago this was Cahal’s first attempt at a marathon length run. He crossed the line just over 4 hours in 4:05:57 and has so far has attracted £250 in sponsorship for the Yorkshire Regiment Benevolent Trust which provides financial support to current and former soldiers and their families.

People can continue to sponsor Cllr Burke by visiting www.justgiving.com/C-Burke or by texting HUDD77 followed by the amount to 70070.

The first Manchester Marathon was run in 1908. It was the first ever amateur marathon to be run using the now established marathon distance of 26 miles 385 yard distance. This years 37th Greater Manchester Marathon course was 26.2 miles and the route took in the Trafford Quays area, Media City, Sale, Brooklands, Timperley, Altrincham, Urmston and Stretford.
Runners from across the world came to compete at the showcase event, which is expected to raise £2m for charity and it started and finished near Manchester United’s Old Trafford Stadium. Before starter’s orders there was 26-second silence followed by a 26-second applause in memory of those who died and were injured in the terror attack on the Boston Marathon earlier this month.
Cllr Burke (Lib Dem) said:

“It’s been a real pleasure to undertake and complete this fundraising challenge in support of the Mayor’s Charity Appeal. The Yorkshire Regiment Benevolent Trust does a remarkable job supporting soldiers and their families and it’s always been a priority of mind to use my profile as a local councillor to support important charities such as this. It’s been hard fitting in the training around my council work, my job and my home life but I’m really glad to have managed it to have been part of such a wonderful event on Sunday and to be one of the thousands of people out raising money for worthwhile causes.”

Mayor of Kirklees, Cllr David Ridgway said:

“I am really grateful to Cahal for taking up this challenge on behalf of the Mayor’s Charity Appeal. The Yorkshire Regiment Benevolent Trust needs our support more now than at any time. It makes no distinction of age, length of service, theatre of operations, type of award or rank and all monies raised go to helping soldiers and their dependants. Once again, my sincere thanks go to Cahal and those that have sponsored him over the weekend – thy money will mean a great deal to the Trust and the vital work it does.”