Paratrooper spending 24 hours running round Penshaw Monument in aid of Sunderland Soup Kitchen

A member of the Parachute Regiment will be keeping his feet firmly on the ground as he runs in loops around Penshaw Monument around the clock in support of Sunderland Soup Kitchen.

By Fiona Thompson

Published 12th Dec 2020, 10:20 BST

Updated 14th Dec 2020, 11:32 BST

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Company Sergeant Major Shaun McGlynn will set out at 10am on Saturday, December 12, and follow a half-mile route mapped out around the landmark.

It takes him up its 75 steps, along a pathway which runs along the other side and then around back to the base, with the 41-year-old from Sunderland aiming to get in 144 laps and 70 miles in during the challenge.

He will be joined by pals at various points to keep him company, with a support team to help keep him safe, fed and watered.

Shaun McGlynn pictured during one of his training runs at Penshaw.

Shaun McGlynn pictured during one of his training runs at Penshaw.

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Andrea Bell, the charity’s leader, will be among those to lend her backing and be on hand to celebrate the end of his bid at 10am on Sunday, with £2,000 already raised for her funds.

Shaun, who has previously completed ultra-marathons and a 10k 24-hour loop run, knows those steep steps will up the stakes of his fundraiser.

He said: “I got back from Afghanistan in May-June this year and all my races got cancelled and I just started thinking, ‘I need to come up with something’.

"I thought about doing a half-mile on a loop for 24-hours and I was looking for a charity, and I messaged Andrea and asked if I could raise some money for the kitchen.

"I went up about three or four times, working out the half-mile.

"The hours in darkness will probably be the hardest, between 2am and 6am, before it gets light.

"A lot of it will be the mental challenge, but I know people will be there for me at the end.”

Andrea added: “Shaun came to us because he feels compelled do help others and it’s that passion in people which shows Sunderland is a caring city.

"I think he’s totally mad for doing it, but we’ll be there at the end to cheer him over the line.”

Sponsorship can be added via https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/runpenshaw24forscsk and he has a Run Penshaw 24 Facebook page.

Also ongoing for the fund is the 100k swim in 100 days being led by East Herrington dad Leroy Arkley while another campaign by the Roker Report is also collecting cash.

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