A young runner is completing a marathon in aid of a charity set up by his uncle after an accident left him paralysed.
Will Nettle is just 10 years old but has challenged himself to cover 26miles in a month in aid of the Eley Foundation which helps Colombian street children. Will, who attends Puss Bank School, chose the charity because it was set up by his dad’s cousin Dan Eley.
Dan was working in Colombia helping street children when he was paralysed from the neck down in a diving accident.
After an online campaign raised £90,000 to bring him home to Guildford in Surrey and a year in hospital he launched the foundation to help children living in poverty in Columbia to get education and training to become independent.
Will’s dad Jim, a park ranger at Ladybower Reservoir, took part in the Born Survivor event at Capesthorne Hall earlier this year for the charity and this inspired Will to do some fundraising too.
Will is doing the marathon a little bit a time, notching up miles at park runs in Wilmslow, as well as loops from his home on Ecton Avenue, Macclesfield.
Will said: “I want to raise money for the foundation as it helps children in Columbia who don’t have much to get the education and training they need. I love running and want to run a marathon.
“Because I’m ten I can’t do it all at once, instead I’m going to do it in a month. I’m aiming to do it in a couple of weeks but am giving it a month just in case. Dan is my dad’s cousin and I’m really proud to be related to him.”
Dad Jim, 38, who is married to Holly and is also dad to Ollie, seven, said: “We are quite an energetic family and do the park runs together on a Saturday.
“I’m immensely proud of Will doing this for Dan’s charity. It was an awful time for my cousin who had an accident in a lagoon in Colombia. He was on death’s door and it was such a remote place we had to raise £90,000 to bring him home.
“He spent a year in hospital coming to terms with never walking again but has made some good progress and can now move his arm using his neck and shoulder muscles.
“It’s been amazing what he’s achieved with the charity after the accident and I’m proud Will is doing his bit to help too.”
Donate at mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/jimnettle1.
