Two postal workers whose families have been affected by heart issues have delivered a first class long-distance run to raise funds to support others.
Royal Mail managers Leesa Grainger and Paul Davies, who work in Tavistock and Callington respectively, have run 100 kilometres on their coast to coast challenge across Devon on Thursday, September 24, from Bideford, to finish about midnight the same night at Plymouth Mail Centre. They raised an ‘amazing’ £1,800 for the British Heart Foundation.
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.
Paul said: “Thanks to the incredible generosity of our friends, family, colleagues at Royal Mail, and the wonderful people of Tavistock, we raised an amazing £1,800 for the British Heart Foundation.
“It was a super tough challenge, but the support we received throughout made a huge difference and kept us going when it mattered most. I found the first 10k the hardest. The sheer thought of the amount of running was overwhelming. I hit the mental wall straight away. But the love for my grandfather who trusted this charity was my motivation.
“We are truly grateful to everyone who donated, encouraged us, and followed our journey. Also a massive thank you to St Mellion Health Centre, near Saltash, who provided us with after-care. We are so grateful.”
“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.”
Leesa said: “I found the last ten miles the hardest due to pain in my heel. What kept me going was wanting to make the charity proud and to show strength and resilience.
“The Royal Mail corporately supports 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 ran an incredible five marathons in five consecutive days to raise £3,500 for the BHF. They visited Royal Mail sorting offices on the way and were met by cheering colleagues and the Tavistock mayor.
Donations are welcomed at this GoFundMe link: https://tinyurl.com/32dusth3