A big-hearted railworker is tracking a route south to help families facing financial hardship in North Lanarkshire.
Del O’Reilly, from Newmains, will be running from Scotland to England.
When it comes to taking on a charity challenges, Del doesn’t do things in half measures, as he will attempt to run, at times walking, the equivalent of more than three marathons in the space of 24 hours.
He has already brought in more than £770 in donations, which is to be passed on to local food banks to ensure families can put food on the table with the cost of living crisis leaving an ever-increasing number of people struggling to make ends meet.
“Depending on how much money I raise – I definitely think I can break the £1000 mark – I’m going to try and split it between a few places, said Del. “I’ve been in touch with food banks including one in Motherwell, as I’m originally from Muirhouse.
“I reckon it’s 90 miles between the start and finish, I must be off my head.”
The 40-year-old, who works in rail engineering upgrading and renewing lines and infrastructure across the country, is no stranger to taking on tough tasks for charity and last year raised hundreds of pounds for Wishaw-based suicide prevention and crisis centre Chris’s House by completing a month-long challenge.
This year he is embarking on a more extreme 24-hour challenge, passing through places such as Crawford, Beattock Summit, Ecclefechan and Gretna Green before crossing the border into Cumbria.
Del continued: “I’ve been doing charity stuff for about 20 years and it’s just something I’ve always sort of done. Last year it was for Chris’s House. It was 250km in a month – kind of six marathons. That was in October.
“But as well as the runs I’ve held quizzes and race nights, it’s a mixed bag. I lost pals through murder and suicide and that sort of got me into fundraising and I’ve just never stopped.”
Del won’t be running alone, he has managed to rope his mate Danny Young into accompanying him as they take on the arduous task on Saturday, August 20.
The challenge is being sponsored by @TKDdesigns, who personalise clothing, balloons and handmade household goods.
Del added: “It’s disgusting in 2022 that families are still in the position that they have to use foodbanks.
“It doesn’t look as if things are going to get any better.
“With what’s happening just now, with the cost of living crisis and so many families having to rely on them to feed their weans, I just thought the money would be best going to help them.
"I’m in a position where I drop a bag [of food items] in here and there, but if I can push myself to do something and folk are willing to donate a couple of quid and it helps people in the short term then I’m also more than willing to do it.”
To donate visit: www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/del-oreilly
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