Sheffield runners complete Paris Marathon for sick children

Lisa Higgins, aged 31, Andy Shelton, 35, Rich Strafford, 34 and Nicola Strafford, 30, completed the 26.2 mile route on the streets of Paris in under four hours and 30 minutes - raising £1,7800 between them.

All four have tackled half marathons before but the team went one step further this year to support the patients who visit Sheffield Children’s Hospital.

Nicola, who works at the University of Sheffield, said: “We decided to take on the Paris Marathon after missing out on a place in the London Marathon ballot, and thought if we are going to do then we’ll make it a good one. It was a brilliant experience overall, some bits were great and some bits were very tough but we’re all so happy to have done it.

“The Children’s Hospital Charity is a brilliant local charity which we’re proud have in our city and want to help support.”

The Paris Marathon, donned as one of the most scenic city runs in the world, takes runners on a whistle-stop tour of some of the city’s most famous landmarks, starting at the Champs Elysees and finishing at the Arc de Triomphe.

Tonya Kennedy, events fundraiser at The Children’s Hospital Charity, said: “We couldn’t do what we do without runners like Nicola, Lisa, Rich and Andy. Everyone who runs for The Children’s Hospital Charity will help make it better for children and families for generations to come, by transforming the hospital into a world-class facility to match the world-class care already provided on the wards.”

The money raised by the four runners will help create two new physiotherapy rooms in a new wing under construction.