'˜Muppets' to tackle border wall mission

'The Muppets' Allan Flood, Gareth Taylor and Andre Lennon-Smith

Gareth Taylor, 33, and his friends Allan Flood, Kieran Maher, Andre Lennon-Smith and Jason Henry will take on the gruelling 69-mile run across hills and valleys to raise money for Cerebral Palsy Sport, the National Autistic Society, and Love 4 Leah.

Gareth, of Delaney Drive, Freckleton, said: “We have done the Marathon Des Sables - six marathons in five days - in 2014. We have always raised money for charities that we held close to our hearts. These three charities affect all of us.”

Allan, 35, who lives in Lytham, added: “Cerebral Palsy Sport has really helped my nephew. They allow children with limited mobility to do team sports and enjoy themselves, which everybody else takes for granted.

“It gave my brother-in-law the chance to cheer his son on playing football, which is something we never thought he’d be able to do.”

The fund-raising fanatics – nicknamed ‘the muppets’ by their friends thanks to their hare-brained charity scehemes – aim to raise £5,000 to split between their chosen charities.

Project manager Gareth – jokingly known as ‘Miss Piggy’ to his friends – said: “We try to do something every year. We had a bit of a gap last year - that’s why we’re doing the wall run this year. We’re always in relatively good training. I was in the forces so I’ve always been interested in fitness.

“We’re hoping to do it in 14 or 15 hours. It’s mind over matter.

“I’ve never done 69 miles in one go. The most I’ve done is 66. You hit a wall when you get to around 35 miles and the last 30 or so you just have to push through.It’s definitely going to be a mental challenge.”

The team will set off from Carlisle Castle on June 18 and travel to the finish line at Baltic Quay in Newcastle.

Gareth said: “It’s not going to be easy but there’s no point in doing it if it’s going to be easy. There’s a little bit of anxiety but it’s to be expected.

“We have raised over £1,000 already and we think there’s definitely a chance people will get behind us to help support these three great causes.”

n People can donate to the muppets’ fundraiser online at uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserProfilePage.action?userUrl=TheWallRunningMuppets2016