Marathon effort by Reaseheath’s Mark

Reaseheath College Student Services Co-ordinator Mark Hardy took on the gruelling 26.2 mile Rome Marathon to raise funds for the Nantwich college’s RAG (Raising and Giving) charity.

Mark, 23, completed the 26.2 mile race in a personal best time of six hours three minutes and raised £950 in sponsorship from friends and colleagues. The cash has been added to a pot of money which will be handed over to the students’ chosen charity of the year, The Children’s Adventure Farm Trust www.caft.co.uk at Reaseheath’s graduation ball in June.

Mark, who lives on the college campus but originates from Crewe, completed his first marathon last year when he took part in the Flora London Marathon. He raised a similar amount of money on that occasion for RAG.

He said: “I found the Rome marathon easier than London because I began preparing earlier this year. There was an amazing atmosphere along the whole length of the course and particularly at the finish line. Everyone was willing you on and you get such a sense of achievement when you finish. I’d like to thank everyone who supported me.”

Reaseheath’s staff and students are hoping to beat the £12,000 total which they raised for charity last year. A wide range of fund raising events have been taking place across college.”

CAFT Community Fundraiser Julie Gray said: “We are absolutely over the moon that we have been chosen as the 2010 charity. We’re so impressed at the lengths everyone is going to in order to raise money. I can guarantee that their efforts will make a huge difference to the lives of terminally ill, disabled and disadvantaged children from all over the north west.”

Mark is continuing to collect donations for the Altrincham based charity. Anyone wishing to make a donation can go to www.justgiving.com/mark-hardy