100-miles to get 100-people to donate organs

Fitness fanatic and Todmorden councillor Jayne Booth, 52, and Issy Pollard, 39, of Todmorden, will run two 50-mile challenges in June and July to encourage more people to register for organ donation - a subject they feel passionate about.

Both women, who run with the Todmorden Harriers, say close family members would have benefitted from organ donation if it was more accessible on the NHS.

The medical mission runners will start with the Calderdale Way on June 6. The following month, on July 25, they will take on the epic Lakeland 50 where they will have to navigate Lake District fells in darkness. The running partners hope to finish their second challenge in 15-hours.

They aim to get 100-people to sign up for organ donation - one person for every mile each of them run.

Jayne said: “We want to raise awareness of a subject close to both our hearts. One organ donor could save many lives just by registering and carrying a donor card.

“There will always be an ethical debate around organ donation. But the more it’s discussed through the media the more the questions that people may have can be answered.

“The aim of our epic challenge is to encourage people to register for organ donation but also to, very importantly, get people talking about it and start making the subject less taboo.”

Jayne and Issy have been training hard since last September to prepare themselves physically and mentally for their massive endurance challenge.

Jayne says the running duo have spent hours in training running over moorland in “horrendous” weather conditions but appreciates the beautiful outdoors that, she says, we are so lucky to have.

Issy says running in horrendous weather conditions is ‘character building’ - which, she says, they have truly built theirs.

NHS Choices report that between April 2013 and March 2014, 4,655 organ transplants were carried out in the UK thanks to the generosity of 2,466 donors.

To find out more call NHS Donor Line 0300 123 23 23.