Running bin man Deano takes on latest epic fundraising challenge on 25th anniversary of mother's death
Dedicated Deano looks to raise funds for the hospital who cared for his mother before she passed away
Deano Franciosy - also known as The Running Bin Man, is about to take on his latest challenge with his customary wheelie bin strapped to his back.
He will be raising money for and to say thank you to the staff at Sunderland Royal Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit (ICU) who looked after his mam before she passed away.
Deano, 57, sadly lost his mother, Edna Gardner, who passed away in 2001 at the age of 61 due to a heart attack.
She was cared for by the staff at Sunderland Royal Hospital’s ICU and every year since, on May 28, the day of Edna’s passing, devoted son Deano takes on a challenge to raise money for the hospital and to honour his mam’s memory.
He said: “I remember when my mam was seriously ill in hospital and it was not looking like she was going to survive, I kissed her on the forehead and promised her I would do a challenge every year in her memory and to raise money for the hospital.
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“This year will be the 25th anniversary of losing my mam and I find it helps to focus my grief into doing something positive.
“Last year I ran a 24 mile round trip from the Stadium of Light to South Shields and back.
“But other events have included running up and down the steps at Penshaw Monument and running from my house in Sunderland to the Angel of the North and back.”
This year, on May 28, Deano will once again have his wheelie bin strapped to his back as he runs up and down the 199 steps to Whitby Abbey for one hour solid.
If things get tough, Deano said he will think of his mother and the staff who cared for her.
He said: “I always carry a photograph of my mam in the bin and I wear a t-shirt which also has her photograph on it. This is a cause which is close to my heart and the ICU at the hospital means a lot to me for what they did for my mam in her final days.
"I just want to give something back and to say ‘thank you’ to the staff at Sunderland Royal Hospital who looked after my mam before she died.”
On New Year’s Eve (2025), dedicated Deano ran the HogmanHoway event in Newcastle, completing all the region’s fun runs and raising a whopping £300,000 for local charities.
You can donate to Deano’s cause via the fundraising page set-up with South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust.
Deano said: “I just want to raise as much money as I can and every little bit helps.”