Pair set to run ‘epic endurance’ 100 mile journey to Eastbourne in 24 hours

Former Eastbourne residents Tom Copeland and Todd Leckie said the idea came after they initially wanted to challenge themselves during lockdown and have something to remember 2020 by other than the pandemic.

Tom, a former Eastbourne College student who now runs his own sports PR agency, said, “We’re always trying to find sporting or endurance challenges to push ourselves, but I think we might be testing our limits more than ever with this event.

“We’ve both put in a good amount of training but are still a little in the dark as to exactly how our bodies and legs will react to the sheer distance to be covered and time on our feet.

“I’m confident we will arrive in Eastbourne on Sunday afternoon, but I’m not so sure how much fun we’ll have in between.”

Todd, who is a former professional triathlete and Beachy Head marathon runner-up, and Tom will start the challenge on Saturday afternoon (July 18) and end on Sunday afternoon (July 19).

The two men will start in Winchester and run via the South Downs Way footpath finishing near Bede’s Prep School in under 24 hours, with all the money raised to be donated to the Cystic Fibrosis Trust in support of Tom’s goddaughter.

The pair, who both used to work at The Tri Store in Grove Road, said they will be supported along the way by their families and that they have already raised, as of Monday (July 6), more than £1,500 of their £2,000 target.

Tom said, “We wanted to raise money for a charity close to my heart after my beautiful goddaughter was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis earlier this year.

“Hopefully the funds we raise will continue to help the push for more support and access to new life-saving therapies becoming available.”

For more information or to donate to the cause, visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/tom-copeland-sdw

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