21 Run Challenge Comes To Girvan

1 JUN2010

As part of the Depaul UK's 21st birthday celebrations, Chief Executive Paul Marriot and Trustee Michael Walton are competing in the Girvan Half Marathon on July 13. The race will be part of a bid to run 21 races in 21 counties and raise £21,000 for the youth community work that the charity undertakes.

Currently half way through their challenge, Girvan's Half Marathon will be race number 13 for the men, as they look to raise money for this fantastic cause. The first race they ran was in January 31, with the Epsom Oddballs Race, with Woodhall Spa 10K and Redcar Half Marathon to come before their only Scottish challenge.

Over the past 21 years, Depaul UK has worked with the most disadvantages young people in the UK, working in communities where poverty and long-term unemployment have resulted in generations of social exclusion and high rates of homelessness.

The charity now has 41 varied and complimentary projects around the UK, that work with young people to tackle homelessness at every level. Depaul also runs a service called 'Nightstop' which offer emergency short term accommodation in the homes of local volunteers on a night by night basis.

Paul Marriott Paul Marriott, competitor and Chief Executive of Depaul UK said, "I hope that by completing this challenge I can raise some money for Depaul UK and make more people aware of the work that is done to tackle the problem of youth homelessness in the UK. I also hope it will be a bit of fun and a good way to raise awareness of our 21st birthday."

The men are doing a mix of marathons, half marathons and 10K races in 2010, each one in a different country, and each run is local to a Depaul UK project or 'Nightstop' scheme. Depaul has a 'Nightstop' service in South Ayrshire, and this is why the men decided to run the Girvan Half Marathon.