Dad takes on 700 mile run to raise funds for son’s ice hockey team and Sheffield charity

Darren Green, aged 32, hopes to make £2,500 for Bluebell Wood Children's Hospice and also his son Kian's ice hockey team, the Sheffield Sabres U13s.

The challenge is made all the more difficult by the fact that Darren, a serving Sergeant in the British Army, is carrying a military Bergan weighing in excess of 20kg.

Darren said: “Me and my family have just relocated back to the UK from Canada, where we spent the last two years. Whilst living their me and my son, Kian, age 11, fell in love ice hockey.

“Since arriving back in the UK, Kian has continue to play this niche sport with the Sheffield Sabres U13's and I help out with the coaching.

“The team desperately need help to get them to Besancon, France, where they hope to represent the UK at a tournament in April.

“The distance I have chosen to run is to replicate running from our team base in Sheffield to the home of the tournament in Besancon.

“I have also chosen to raise funds for Bluebell Wood Children's Hospice as they are an amazing charity that do brilliant work to support children and their families during troubling times.”

Darren began his challenge on January 27 and hopes to complete it by April.

Before he began his challenge, Darren aimed to complete the run by April 24, but he is now hopes he may be able to finish it by April 6.

He said: “At present I’m on target to now finish April 6, as apposed to the original date of the April 24, a full two and a half weeks earlier than planned.

Due to the times I am running I spend a lot of time running under head torch and street lighted path ways, so routes are limited through the weekdays.

“At weekends and days I’m lucky to run in the daylight I have found a good selection trail runs which help ease the impact on the knees and joints and also provide beautiful scenery.”

Darren is managing to run 10 miles a day at the moment, despite having an injury.

He said: “The challenge is going okay. My body is struggling and I’m battling both mentally and physically with each run.

“I am currently nursing an injury as I’ve got a stress fracture forming in my right hip which makes each run agonising.

“But, plenty of ice , ice baths & pain relief is making it bearable. I am focused and will complete this challenge even if it means crawling.

“As I’m not only trying to raise money but to provide the right message to the kids which is that you can achieve anything you put your mind to and to never to give up no matter how hard things get. Persevere and you will succeed.”

To support Darren, please visit www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/darren-green-299.