A Basingstoke fitness instructor is taking on a mammoth challenge to raise funds for charity.
Richard Opperman is running a marathon a month throughout 2010 to help raise money for research into cancer, a disease which has taken the lives of four of his family members. The 41-year-old lost his brother, father, uncle and grandmother to cancer.
Now he is determined to help others battle the disease by raising money for charities including Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research, the blood cancer charity dedicated to finding cures and treatments for leukaemia, lymphoma and myeloma. Richard completed the first of his 12 marathons in Gloucestershire on 24 January.
He said: “My brother was particularly young when he lost his life to leukaemia at the age of 22. I want to raise funds for Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research to help them in their fight against blood cancers so that families in the future can be spared the loss that I have had to endure.”
The marathons are only a warm up for the fitness instructor, who will face an even bigger challenge in 2011 when he cycles from Hampshire to his hometown of East London in South Africa.
He continued: “I’ve always placed great importance in exercise and fitness and hope that my endeavours over the next two years will not only raise lots of money for a worthwhile cause, but will also inspire the youth of today to get out there and enjoy being healthy.”
Richard is certainly no amateur when it comes to marathons. His impressive running portfolio includes 90 whole marathons, about 30 ‘ultra marathons’, and several half marathons and triathlons.
To help Richard reach his goal of £10,000 for Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research and to find out more about the marathons or the cycle ride, visit his online fundraising page at www.justgiving.com/Richard-Opperman
For further information, please contact Fatima Qureshi at the Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research Press Office on 020 7269 9019 or email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
