'12 In 12' Team Complete First Challenge, The Great North Run

Sunday saw the start of a year-long fundraising campaign that will traverse the globe starting in Newcastle, finishing in Hawaii.

Just a month after dreaming up the challenge that will see Haydn Richards, from South Shields, and members of the Hire a Hero Gorillas rugby team scale Mount Kilimanjaro along with some of the toughest routes in the UK, three members of the 12 in 12 team completed the Great North Run.

“Things all went to plan, three people ran, myself (in two hours 17 minutes), my girlfriend Ashton Bailey (96 minutes) and David McKenzie (2 hours 12 minutes),” explained Richards.

“It was my first half marathon, I’d only ever run five miles before. But I enjoyed it, even though I cramped up by the last two miles.”

It is as a result of the newly established Hire a Hero Gorillas that Haydn and the group hope to raise £5,000 for the charity from the year-long challenge.

“I met with Gerry Hill [Hire a Hero CEO] and we came up with the Gorillas and we like doing challenges so thought it would be a good way of raising money,” said Richards.

The next challenge for the 12 in 12 team is ‘Tough Mudder’, a 12 mile-long obstacle course designed by the Special Forces, which has already drummed up great interest.

“We have eight doing Tough Mudder,” said Richards, “hopefully they’ll get a few mile in their legs in the next couple of weeks in preparation.”

With an increased number taking part in the next event, which takes place on the 5th & 6th October at Cholmondeley Estate, Cheshire, Richards is hopeful that it is a sign of things to come.

“Numbers have gone up for the events you don’t have to pay for, the Yorkshire Three Peaks in November for example will push up numbers and increase the interest in Hire a Hero.”

A full list of the challenges to come over the coming year as part of the 12 in 12 challenge can be found here.

Please show your support to Haydn and the Gorillas by donating via the team’s fundraising page.