Notts runner supports Rainbows

A Nottinghamshire runner is calling on people to get involved with his latest venture to raise funds for Rainbows.

Martin Beresford (48) is staging an endurance challenge in collaboration with I’m Not From London music promotions for this year’s Waterfront Festival on Saturday 1 July.

Aptly named ‘Run to the Beat’, the 10-mile route will start and end at the Canal House venue, taking in the history and heritage of Nottingham.
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Money raised at Run to the Beat and the Waterfront Festival will be divided between our hospice and Tara’s Angels – which helps and supports domestic abuse survivors and their children.

Martin, who works for the Civil Service, has had a long-time commitment to keeping fit and active. He became more dedicated after applying to take on his first London Marathon in respect and support of his father, Peter, to try and raise his spirits after a traumatic period with debilitating health. Martin said: “After what my father had gone through over several years, the daunting prospect of running a marathon didn’t seem so off-putting.”

Sadly, Peter, died two months before Martin ran the marathon in 2006, but he still serves as Martin’s greatest inspiration. “Everything I do is a legacy for my dad and hopefully it will inspire others,” said Martin.

“I started off doing endurance challenges for the bigger, well-known charities, however over the last 10 years I have focused predominantly in supporting more local, independent and smaller organisations. Rainbows is a perfect fit for that, embracing all the necessary categories. I want to raise much needed funds and awareness that helps and supports babies, children, young people and their families. To know there are mechanisms in place to support them, as well as the additional support that Rainbows brings, restores faith in humanity. The same applies for Tara’s Angels.”

In April, Martin organised the Football Ground Charity Run, which saw over 30 participants taking on an arduous 20-mile trek from Mansfield Town FC to Nottingham Forest FC.

Martin also completed the Manchester Marathon in April, raising £1,000, between our charity and Tara’s Angels.

Melanie Bodaly, Partnerships Development Manager at Rainbows, added: “We would like to thank Martin for his continuous support of our charity. We rely on our fundraisers to continue providing vital support to hundreds of babies, children and young people with serious and terminal illnesses.

“We hope people will support him by joining in with Run to the Beat or buying tickets for the Waterfront Festival, which promises to be a great day out.”