Trio raise more than £2,000 after completing 24-hour 100km challenge

Three super-fit runners have completed a 24-hour Double Ultra Challenge in Uttoxeter and raised more than £2,000 for Dementia UK. Nick Fearnett, 37, Emily Merrison, 22 and Tom Greatrix, 28, tackled a 100km run, completing a 4k loop roughly every hour for a full day.

The challenge started at 5pm on Friday, April 26 from Nick’s house, giving the trio a race headquarters from which to recuperate and pick up vital supplies after each loop.

Nick is a contract manager for leading leisure operator Everyone Active, having recently been promoted from his role as general manager at Meadowside Leisure Centre in Burton. Stoke AC runner Emily is a member at Uttoxeter Leisure Centre, where Nick is also a former general manager, while Tom is a friend who has completed several fundraising marathons.

While Dementia UK is Everyone Active’s charity partner, Nick also has a personal connection as his grandmother Eileen Webb lived with dementia prior to her sad passing in February.

Nick said: “This was the hardest challenge I’ve ever done – but it was brilliant. It was great to run with Emily and Tom as we kept each other going during the physically and mentally difficult moments. We had friends, family and colleagues join us for various sections of the challenge, which made a huge difference.

“My grandma is my inspiration to do this and there was no way we were going to fall short, but it was an incredible feeling for all of us to get it done after 24 hours.
“We’d like to thank everyone who’s donated to this amazing cause and those who supported us on the day. We couldn’t have done it without them.”

If you would like to donate to Nick’s challenge and Dementia UK, go to this page: https://www.justgiving.com/page/nickandtom24hour

Location: Uttoxeter, Staffordshire