Chichester runner raises more than £28,000 for St Wilfrid’s Hospice

24-year-old Chichester runner Reuben Gallop has run a remarkable 2,205 miles in aid of St Wilfrid’s Hospice, Chichester, and raised over £28,000 for the charity.

Over 76 days, Reuben ran approximately 30 miles, more than a marathon every day, from the Arctic Circle back to Chichester.

The Hospice, which provides expert, free-of-charge palliative and end-of-life care to people across the local community, cared for Reuben’s grandparents, both at the Hospice and at home. Having seen first-hand the difference the Hospice made to his family, Reuben wanted to give something back.

Reuben said: “There was only one charity I wanted to raise funds for, and if I was to do something this big, I wanted to give back to an organisation that helped our family.

“I’d seen the Hospice’s events such as the Moonlight Walk advertised around Chichester and had first-hand experience of the expert care they provide. They helped take away so much of the stress during the final days of someone I loved.

“That's when you truly realise and appreciate just how important their work is.”

As an independent charity, St Wilfrid's Hospice relies heavily on support from the local community to fund its services. Running the Hospice costs over £11 million a year, and only 18% of this cost comes from the government.

Lois Howell, Chief Executive of St Wilfrid’s Hospice, said: “We are all so thrilled that Reuben has completed this incredible challenge. What he has achieved is truly inspiring, and we are enormously grateful for the funds he has raised to support the vital end-of-life care we provide to local people and their families.

"Thank you, Reuben, and thank you to all our supporters, shoppers and donors. We simply couldn't do what we do without you."