Posties delivering first class run challenge

Two postal workers whose families have been affected by heart issues are promising to deliver a first class long-distance run to raise funds for the British Heart Foundation.

Royal Mail managers Leesa Grainger and Paul Davies, who work in Tavistock and Callington respectively, are preparing to run 100 kilometres across Devon on the afternoon of Thursday, September 24, from Bideford, to finish about midnight the next day at Plymouth Mail Centre.

The charity is the Royal Mail’s official cause nationally, but the pair also have personal reasons for their fundraising.

Leesa’s dad Steven Grainger, who worked as a railway conductor for 30 years, passed away from a heart attack, while Paul’s grandfather Glynn had to have a triple heart bypass operation.

Leesa said: “Of course the Royal Mail is already corporately supporting the British Heart Foundation, which we’re both very supportive of because individually we both have family reasons for fundraising.

“My father passed away from a heart attack and we have a lot to thank the British Heart Foundation for because they were there when we needed them as a family. They pointed us to many sources of support and it was a great help to us at a very stressful time.”

Last year the pair – Leesa from Tavistock and Paul from Gunnislake – ran an incredible five marathons in five consecutive days to raise £3,500 for the BHF.

Paul said: “We have named the challenge ‘Coast to Coast’, and our aim is to raise as much money as possible for the British Heart Foundation and the life-saving research they undertake.

“We have been both affected by having important people in our lives who have passed away due to heart conditions and the British Heart Foundation have supported our families. My grandfather had a triple heart bypass and I remember as a child his house and car was covered in a British Heart Foundation posters and stickers and other information. I was too young to realise the significance of it, but I’m very much aware now of the importance of the charity in research and support.”

The pair are currently training for their epic run, completing around 70km per week. This includes one long road run at weekends. On Saturday, September 5, they will take on their biggest training run of 50km.

On last year’s challenge they visited 11 Royal Mail delivery offices, being cheered on by colleagues.

Paul added: “With just four weeks to go, we are currently at £850 raised and are grateful for every donation received.

“On last year’s challenge last year, we were also honoured to receive support from the mayor of Tavistock when we visited the Royal Mail delivery office, which meant a great deal to us. As local people, we are incredibly proud of our connection to Tavistock and are passionate about representing our town in a positive way whilst supporting such an important charity.”

Donations are welcomed at this GoFundMe link: https://tinyurl.com/32dusth3