A soldier whose life was saved by his helmet when he was shot in the head in Afghanistan will run the Lincoln 10k with a fridge strapped to his back.
Physical training instructor Iain Maynard is raising money for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust as his 20-month-old daughter Halle has the condition.
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Iain Maynard with his daughter who suffers from Cystic Fibrosis.
But because he can run a 10k course in under 35 minutes, he has decided to tackle the challenge with the unusual cargo.
“One of my friends did a triathlon with a fridge strapped to his back and I wanted to do something different so I used him as inspiration,” said Mr Maynard, 27, of Fiskerton,
“With my job, running a normal 10k is a bit easy and I wanted a challenge which I think I have got here.
“The fridge weighs about 40kg but it will feel heavier the further I get round the course.
“I have been training by filling my bag with kit and running around the park.”
Since joining the Army 11 years ago, Mr Maynard has toured Kosovo, Bosnia, Iraq and Afghanistan twice.
It was in 2009 in Afghanistan that he was shot in the helmet.
But the tough guy image is far removed from the personal reasons for Mr Maynard taking on the challenge.
“With Halle having cystic fibrosis, I wanted to do something to raise awareness of the condition and also raise a bit of money too,” he said.
“You have to be so aware of hygiene around Halle because if she gets a chest infection then she can be in hospital for two weeks.
“I have to regulate her medicines every day and also do the physio she needs to clear her lungs. But I love doing it because she is my little girl.”
Mr Maynard will be joined by 16 mates in the race, dressed as women.
“This is going to mean so much to me, having all my family there and doing it in my home town,” he said.
“I have done fundraisers before but Halle and the family haven’t been there so this will be brilliant.”
Gemma Matthews from the Cystic Fibrosis Trust said: “Most of the money we raise comes from families affected by cystic fibrosis like the Maynards and we are hugely grateful to them for their support. ”
Mr Maynard hopes to raise around £1,500 for the trust. To sponsor him, visit www.just giving.com/iain-maynard1/
A Lincoln teacher will raise money for a cancer clinic when she tackles the Edinburgh Marathon on May 26.
Louise Crowther, from Nettleham, will run in memory of her late father-in-law who died of cancer on May 26, last year.
Money raised will go to the Bridge Clinic at St James’s University Hospital in Leeds.
Rob had been a builder in the city before his death.
Louise, who teaches at the Ermine Primary Academy in Lincoln, said: “I never used to be any good at running.
“My daughter Olivia spotted the Edinburgh Marathon was taking place on the anniversary of her grandad’s death and asked me to fundraise in his honour. I am training hard.”
More than 16,000 runners are expected to take part in the Edinburgh Marathon.
To sponsor Louise, go to www.justgiving.com/louise crowther