Charles’ 125km ‘Metro Map’ multiple marathon challenge!

Charles McManus, 18 from North Shields, is planning a multiple-marathon challenge on Sunday 15^th September, aiming to run to every station on the Tyne and Wear Metro network – 125km in total – in just one day.

Charles is hoping his challenge to ‘run the Metro map’ will raise funds for charities close to his heart, in memory of his dad David who died in 2017, just a few weeks before Charles’ 11^th birthday.

The Tyne and Wear Metro network is made up of 60 stations and Charles has created a running route which will pass every one, meaning he will cover around 125km (almost 78 miles) in total.  He will begin the day at 3am at South Hylton station in Sunderland before running through south and North Tyneside, ending up at Monument station in the centre of Newcastle, to complete the challenge.

Luckily, Charles is a seasoned runner with several half and full marathons under his belt, but this will be by far his most ambitious run to date.

He said:

“I am into ultra running and read a lot of books on the subject. I keep fit and run regularly, so although the challenge sounds daunting, I am confident I can do it. I have been training to improve my cardio fitness but also doing leg work at the gym and cycling to improve my leg strength.”

Charles , who lives at home with his mum and his younger sister, and has an older brother at university, has a very special reason for choosing to fundraise for St Oswald’s Hospice. His dad David McManus received care at the hospice in 2017, and after he died, the family accessed bereavement support from our Family Support Team.

Charles continued:

“When Dad was at the hospice, I remember going to visit him after my football training. I’d get a hot chocolate from the machine there and we’d sit together watching ‘Play to the Whistle’ on TV, as he loved that programme. We’d just chat about school, football, anything really.”

Explaining why he decided to take on such a challenging run, Charles added:

“I just wanted to do something to help others who are in a similar position to what my family were in when dad was unwell. I heard about the man who ran the length of Africa for charity and that gave me the inspiration to  do something myself, which is where the idea came to run the Metro map.  My dad used to push himself with his fitness and has taken part in 100 mile cycles before, so I although he might think I was a bit mad to do this, I know he would be proud of me too.”

Charles has the support of his family who plan not only to be his cheerleaders on the route but also make sure he has the supplies he needs to keep going throughout the day. Mum Claire is an experienced runner herself and has helped plan Charles’ route, and his cousin  Johnny, 20, is aiming to run with him for some for the course. Other friends and family members have pledged to join him along the way, including his Uncle, Andrew McManus.

Andrew who is David’s brother, is going to cycle the route alongside his nephew. The pair have set up a join fundraising page together to raise money for St Oswald’s Hospice and also The Brain Tumour Charity who supported the family though David’s illness.

Andrew added:

“My brother Dave was a huge football fan. I tell Charlie how his Grandad used to take us to Roker Park & St James’ Park in the 1970s and 1980s. Charlie and his cousin Louis are now season ticket holders at Newcastle United, carrying the torch down the generations, so Charlie’s suggestion of running from Sunderland to Newcastle has huge meaning to him and the family.

“Charlie is so modest, but we are very proud of him.  He wants to try and repay the amazing support Dave was given by the hospice by doing something both his mam Claire and dad loved, which is running. We all know he can do it!“

Charles and Andrews’s joint fundraising page can be found here, with donations being split between their two chosen charities.

We wish Charles and everyone joining him on his challenge lots of luck and we can’t wait to hear all about how it went – watch this space!