Mum's cancer bravery inspires son's 1,000-run challenge

A dad is pounding the streets after setting set himself a challenge to run 10k a day - for 1,000 days!
Scott Baker on one of his runs along the coast at Nose's Point.Scott Baker on one of his runs along the coast at Nose's Point.
Scott Baker on one of his runs along the coast at Nose's Point.

Scott Baker, 42, aims to complete the task in aid of Target Ovarian Cancer after his mum was diagnosed with the disease last year.

Val, 67, who is also mum to Scott’s twin brother Michael and younger sibling Peter, 37, has now been given the all-clear, with regular checks made to ensure the grandmother is free of the illness.

Scott Baker collecting in Byron Place in aid of Target Ovarian Cancer.Scott Baker collecting in Byron Place in aid of Target Ovarian Cancer.
Scott Baker collecting in Byron Place in aid of Target Ovarian Cancer.
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Now Scott is calling on others to support his fundraising drive to boost the appeal he has set up.

Scott, who is married to Carrie, 34, and dad to Rosie, 12, and Sam, 10, aims to run a 10k run every day until he has completed 1,000 in total.

If he remains on schedule, he will finish his final run on Wednesday, August 18, 2019.

His first run was in December last year and he is edging towards run 300, with his 500th 10k expected to be next April.

Scott Baker collecting in Byron Place in aid of Target Ovarian Cancer.Scott Baker collecting in Byron Place in aid of Target Ovarian Cancer.
Scott Baker collecting in Byron Place in aid of Target Ovarian Cancer.
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He is fitting in the distances in between his shifts as a premises assistant for Durham County Council, with routes along the seafront of his hometown among those he takes most often.

Scott, from Seaham, has also collected cash thanks to the generosity of shoppers at Byron Place shopping centre in Seaham.

He said: “During the treatment my mam never complained once and was more concerned how all the family were coping. 

“She showed amazing courage and strength throughout and was given the all-clear late last year.

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“When my mam received the all-clear I decided that I wanted to raise money for Target Ovarian Cancer.

“They work across all aspects of ovarian cancer – supporting women, funding research and raising awareness so more women are diagnosed earlier.

“Nothing I do will compare to what my mam had to go through but I wanted to try and push myself as much as I could while raising money and awareness of the symptoms of ovarian cancer.

“I am sure there are many people who are completely unaware of what the symptoms are.”

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Scott set up an original target of raising £1,000, but his Just Giving donations page already stands at more than £1,200.

He added: “I have ran marathons and ultra-marathons before, so I wanted to do something a bit different.

“I thought about running for consecutive days, and I’m not sure how I came up with the figure 1,000, but I stuck with it and I am determined to complete the challenge.
“The distance of 10k takes about 41/42 minutes to run, so I felt I would be able to fit the running around family and work.

“Run when you can, walk when you have to, crawl if you must, just never give up.”