A MAN from Ilminster has raised more than £10,000 in aid of Prostate Cancer UK by completing six marathon walks as part of the charity’s ‘Run the Month’ initiative.
Lee Crossland, 50, joined the ‘Run the Month’ initiative by Prostate Cancer UK in early January and has raised £10,275 for the cause.
He walked six marathons of 26.2 miles throughout January, completing five to six miles every evening after work and he said it “wouldn’t have happened” without the support of the town.
Mr Crossland has completed his marathons on Monday, January 31, when he stopped at Ilminster Cricket Club, which donated £250 for the cause.
Lee Crossland
Mr Crossland said: “I wanted to do something and raise awareness for the condition. I have also just turned 50 and that was one of the reasons too.
“I started on January 1 and the backing I’ve had has been great.”
Talking about the night he completed his final walk at the cricket club, Mr Crossland said: “I felt very emotional. I would like this to be about people from Ilminster because if it wasn’t for them, this wouldn’t have happened. Everyone backed me phenomenally, all family and friends.
Mr Crossland during his final walk
“For a small town like Ilminster to do something like this was amazing. It’s about them, I have done the easy bit, doing the walks was easy. There were 100 people doing the final walk with me on Monday.
“The support never stopped and that made it easy.”
He also explained how sports clubs in the area, as well as residents, all contributed to the cause and made donations.
Mr Crossland also said that “it all went mad really,” and that he was “blown away.”
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