Horsham teens complete marathon charity challenge

Two teenagers from Horsham have run almost 30 miles in the space of two weeks to raise money for charity.
By The Newsroom
Published 20th Oct 2014, 17:00 BST
JPCT 031014 S14420278x Horsham. Jessie Harrod and Lilly Lathey, both 13, running 3 miles every day for the next two weeks to raise money for charity -photo by Steve Cobb SUS-140310-162857001JPCT 031014 S14420278x Horsham. Jessie Harrod and Lilly Lathey, both 13, running 3 miles every day for the next two weeks to raise money for charity -photo by Steve Cobb SUS-140310-162857001
JPCT 031014 S14420278x Horsham. Jessie Harrod and Lilly Lathey, both 13, running 3 miles every day for the next two weeks to raise money for charity -photo by Steve Cobb SUS-140310-162857001

Jessica Harrod, 13, and Lily Lathey, 13, both decided at the beginning of the summer they wanted to run a marathon but after a bit of research discovered they were not quite old enough.

The pair decided the next best option was to complete the long distance run in smaller stages as it meant they could cover the same distance whilst fitting it into their busy lives.

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Jessica said: “We wanted to run around two miles a day to try and cover the distance of a marathon. It is a bit tiring but it is not too hard.”

JPCT 031014 S14420278x Horsham. Jessie Harrod and Lilly Lathey, both 13, running 3 miles every day for the next two weeks to raise money for charity -photo by Steve Cobb SUS-140310-162857001JPCT 031014 S14420278x Horsham. Jessie Harrod and Lilly Lathey, both 13, running 3 miles every day for the next two weeks to raise money for charity -photo by Steve Cobb SUS-140310-162857001
JPCT 031014 S14420278x Horsham. Jessie Harrod and Lilly Lathey, both 13, running 3 miles every day for the next two weeks to raise money for charity -photo by Steve Cobb SUS-140310-162857001

Lily said: “We are covering around 28.6 miles. It has been really fun and I have enjoyed it.” So far the girls have raised more the £250 for chosen charities GRACE, who support women with gynaecological cancer, and Chestnut Tree House. They explained why they had chosen to support these two causes.

Lily said: “My nan passed away due to cancer so it feels like we are doing it out of respect for her.”

Jessica continued: “Chestnut Tree House do a lot of work for children and it makes us feel really lucky and healthy.”

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The teenagers also added an extra incentive to encourage more people to donate.

“There is a raffle and anyone who donates gets put into it,” Lily said. “It does not matter how much you donate it could be a little, it could be a lot, you still have a chance of winning.” Prizes in the raffle included a sweet hamper, donated by Mr Simms Sweet Shop, a Waterstones voucher and a Hair Boutique voucher and both girls said they would like to thank the businesses for their support. The raffle has now finished but you can still donate at Shelley’s newsagents, in Coltsfoot Drive.