Referee runs four marathons in four weeks to boost children's NHS fund-raising efforts

Joe Stearne, 24, was inspired by the family of fellow referee Robert Hicks, whose mother-in-law Mandy was admitted to Pinderfields Hospital, in Wakefield, during April and spent five days battling Covid-19 and pneumonia.

Mandy recovered and following her return home, Robert's children, Charlie and Eva, devised a challenge of completing 500,000 steps in May to thank the NHS staff and raise money for MY Hospitals, the official charity partner of the Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust.

The youngsters' target of £2,000 received a boost when Joe embarked on his running challenge but he admits that his decision was a little hasty. He said: "I had never run a marathon before and had only three days' preparation before my first run.

"My dad Neil suffered hip disease when he was younger and was told he would never walk again but he went on to complete 15 marathons. I thought 'if he can do it then so can I'.

"I have run a few half marathons before and I wanted to do my bit to help the kids."

Joe has officiated at all levels of the amateur game and also been touch judge at Super League level, where Robert is one of the leading referees. A shoulder injury sustained in a car crash earlier in the year halted Joe's training and kept him off work before the lockdown came into force.

But he was determined to get back into shape and Joe's first marathon comprised a run to Newmillerdam, in Wakefield, and back home, stopping the clock at 4 hours 53 minutes. He said: "It was tough and I knew then how much I had taken on."

But Joe was cheered on by his father, who cycled the four routes with him, and he was also joined by players from Joe's former clubs at Lock Lane and Castleford Panthers, to help him complete laps of Pontefract Park to complete his second and third marathons.

The final run on the last day of May saw Joe run from Castleford to Batley and he was joined by Robert for the second half of the run before finishing the 26-mile route outside Mandy's home. Joe said: "It was the first time I had met her and it was a great way to end the challenge.

"I had great support along the way, my family and friends carried supplies and cheered me on. Lads from my old rugby league clubs came out to run alongside me and there has also been support from clubs where I have been a referee."

In addition to Joe's efforts, Charlie and Eva achieved their steps goal to smash their original fundraising target and the total accumulated is now more than £3,400, on their page at www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/CharliEva2020

Despite his success Joe is not finished and he has now sets his sights on a charity cycling challenge in the near future.