Four best mates from Stockport are taking on the Loch Ness 24 challenge on behalf of The Christie

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Stockport friends running the Loch Ness 24 challenge for charity

In a wholesome bit of news coming out of Greater Manchester and crossing into Scotland, four friends from Stockport are set to take on the infamous Loch Ness 24 challenge to help raise money for The Christie Hospital.

Local brothers James and Joe Madeira, and their two lifelong friends, Joel ‘JJ’ Kinsella and Joel Walsh, first met back at Cheadle Hulme School and have been best friends ever since, but now they’re set to grow an even stronger bond by becoming teammates in one of the UK’s toughest endurance challenges.

Dubbing themselves ‘Team Lochedin’ (already off to a great start), the group of 23-year-olds will be taking on Loch Ness 24, and if you’ve never heard of it before, it’s no mean feat.

The gruelling 24-hour off-road running race can be taken on solo or as part of a team relay as participants traverse along the stunning shores of Loch Ness to complete as many seven-kilometre laps as possible along trails that weave through ancient Scottish pine forests and beaches.

Credit: The Christie (supplied)

For Team Lochedin, the event marks the South Manchester group’s first-ever ultra-marathon adventure. As James Madeira explained to The Christie: “Two of us hadn’t ever really run further than from the sofa to the fridge, so it’s fair to say a few eyebrows were raised when we first told people we were each planning to run an ultra-marathon in Scotland.

“We decided to take on the Loch Ness 24 to show our support for the incredible work of The Christie Charity and also to challenge ourselves to our physical limits.

“Whilst we cannot fully comprehend the tough journeys faced by cancer patients, this ultra marathon pushes us out of our comfort zones and symbolises the physical and mental determination and resilience shown by the strong individuals supported by The Christie.”

Running on behalf of their close friend Cam, as well as James and Joe’s Auntie Annie who are both undergoing cancer treatment at the moment, they said that getting to undertake this “adventure together makes it even more special”, noting that The Christie has played a role in each of their lives at one point or another.

Credit: TECU Consulting UK (via Flickr)/Supplied

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James went on to add: “We have witnessed first-hand the unbelievable care and support provided by the hospital to a number of our friends and family members at a time when they needed it most […] we feel that we have a duty to raise money for this incredible hospital and play a tiny part in contributing towards an amazing charity and foundation.”

The lads have been training up hard around Manchester over the past few months, as well as undergoing an intense training camp in Wales, uploading their runs to Strava and getting plenty of group runs done together in the process.

Admitting there’s a potent mix of excitement and nerves, the knowledge that they’re running on behalf pf such an important cause is keeping them motivated, joking, “If we spot Nessie along the way, well, that’s just a bonus!”

Aiming to complete a total of 200 kilometres during the 24-hour period with at least one team member running at all times, they’ve got some serious graft ahead of them, so if you want to help spur them on by doing your bit, you can donate to their fundraiser HERE.

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Featured Images — The Christie (supplied)