Centurion Run

A 100-mile run in just 24-hours - that’s the challenge being taken by Jamie Dennis to raise funds for one of Lincolnshire’s leading charities, which supports thousands of older people every year.

The former local man, who was educated in Caistor, wants to complete his marathon effort in support of Age UK Lindsey.

On Saturday May 8, he will set off from Richmond, London, to run a route that will take him along the River Thames before finishing in Oxford. In completing the 100 miles he hopes not only to raise money for the charity, but to raise awareness of the isolation and separation faced by many older people during the pandemic.

Jamie is also a firm believer that people should challenge themselves, something he started to do when his office-based job prompted him to get out of the chair and into his trainers.

“I’d never run for more than a minute unless it was for rugby or football until I was 23 years old and started my office job. I realised that sitting all day looking at screens might need offsetting with some form of exercise and running is the easiest thing to do, all you need is a pair of trainers,” said Jamie.

“Since then, my old school friend has convinced me to do a few challenges. I shuffled my way around a trail half marathon, having not run more than 5km; then we ran through Morecambe Bay for a my first “marathon” which turned out to be 30 miles not the usual 26 and a bit; and our last outing was a trail double marathon with 6,000ft worth of hills,” he added.

Jamie has a specific reason for running the 100 miles in support of Age UK Lindsey – thereby helping thousands of older people who are supported by the charity across East Lindsey, West Lindsey, and North Lincolnshire.

“I grew up in Lindsey and I feel fortunate that I did. I lived in Grimsby but went to school in Caistor. I experienced the best parts of the amazing countryside, beautiful villages and eventually when I was over 18ish, the great pubs and clubs in the towns. The area had a big impact on me and although I now live in London, I love to visit friends and family back home.

“For some however, their experience might not be as happy as mine and this will have been made much worse by the impact of the COVID pandemic. The isolation, heightened stress and feelings of separation and loneliness that came with the virus will have made life so difficult and unhappy for many people,” explained Jamie.

“I know that Age UK Lindsey works with the people most affected and makes their lives much happier and healthier. Lindsey and the people in it gave me so much to be thankful for when I was growing up and so I want to help make people’s lives better there by supporting Age UK Lindsey and the great work that they do,” he added.