Maddy (35) running to put Rush House on the map

A FIRST-TIME marathon runner is aiming to raise thousands of pounds for a charity which provides accommodation and support for young people.

She is hoping to raise £3,000 for Rotherham charity Rush House — and has already raised £578 thanks to donations from family, friends and well-wishers.

The charity, which supports people aged 16 to 25, needs £3,000 to build and equip a new training room to teach young people essential life skills.

“It’s training and teaching people how to cook and how to look after themselves and they want to help young people get jobs,” said Maddy, a university worker.

“I chose a charity based in Rotherham because I have always lived in Rotherham and I wanted to support someone locally.

“I was looking for small charities around Rotherham and I have always known Rush House have been there.”

Maddy said she had been running three or four times a week since January and she went for longer runs every Sunday.

“Sunday is being out for hours on end, running around Rotherham,” she said.

Maddy said she liked to run around Clifton Park and the Boswell Hills in Moorgate.

“I can probably run up to about 20k at the moment,” she said.

“It’s a training plan I’m following and I’m trying to build [my distances] up and then pull it back.”

Maddy said training had been painful and hard but she was sticking to her plan.

“It’s very dark and cold and gloomy at this time of year,” said Maddy.

“It’s having the motivation to come in from work and get yourself out, or get up at 5am or 6am to go running — it’s difficult.

“It’s now got to a point where I don’t have to motivate myself to do it — I’ll get myself out before I think about it.

“My family has been great — my mum and my sister have both made cakes for me to take into work to raise money for the charity.

“My friends have been really supportive.”

Maddy said she had been trying to get a place at the London Marathon for three years by entering the ballot.

She said she had entered this year’s race through the ballot and, although ballot runners did not have to raise money for a charity, she had decided to support one anyway.

“What will motivate me is knowing what I’m doing it for and that I’m doing it for the town,” said Maddy.

“We don’t have a lot of luck in Rotherham and it always seems to be negative news and I wanted to do something for my community.

“If doing this raises some money for a small charity in Rotherham which helps people, then I’m happt to run 26 miles.”

Visit her fundraising page to make a donation.