Burnley Together’s Ella Roberts completed the Manchester Half Marathon to raise money for Down Town.
The Senior Customer Service Advisor completed the achievement in two hours and 12 minutes, despite picking up an injury four weeks prior and missing out on vital training time, all in aid of Down Town.
The community hub works in partnership with Calico Homes, Burnley Leisure & Culture, Burnley Council, the Message Trust and Burnley FC In The Community to provide free activities and advice, as well as a free school uniform shop, a café and a community grocery.
Over 28,000 people joined Ella for the 13.1-mile event, which started and finished near Manchester United’s Old Trafford and is regarded as the biggest half-marathon in the region.
Ella, whose role includes helping to sort donations, supporting customers and managing the Household Support Fund scheme, highlighted the importance of fundraising for such an integral service.
“The donations go directly towards keeping our building open so we can continue to make a real difference to the lives of the people we support,” she said.
“By raising funds, it helps towards our yearly target of what we must raise to keep us open and operational, to carry on making a real difference to the lives of the people we support.”
Additionally, the impressive feat meant a lot to Ella personally, having never taken part in something like this before.
She added: “I had never run further than 10km before training for the half marathon, and it is something few people complete.
“It was also to give me motivation to get into running again and have a focus on something.”
While Ella’s initial target of £500 has already been hit, donations of any amount are welcome which will allow Down Town to continue making a difference – click here to donate.