Wisbech runner to take Tommy 10k Challenge to a new level

When he sets off on this year’s fundraising Tommy 10K Challenge, Wisbech man Andrew Callaghan plans to go that extra mile to hit his target - in fact he will be going several extra miles!

His attempt at the Tommy Challenge in aid of Royal British Legion Industries has grown ten-fold since he started training a few weeks ago.

“I decided to turn my 10K challenge into ten 10K challenges” said the 57-year-old ex-Army man.

“I was out training when I decided I should challenge myself and set myself a higher target,” he said. “I haven’t told anyone until now so it will come as a surprise to some.”

Andrew intends to do seven 10k runs between now and Remembrance Day on November 11. On that day, he will do a 10k jog in the morning, attend the remembrance service at Wisbech, then march 10k carrying a 10kg pack and then tackle a 10k cycle ride.

He has already reached his original £150 target and put it up to £300 but now hopes it will go even higher.

The Tommy Challenge is a fundraiser which offers participants the choice of how they tackle the 10k - many choose to run, walk, cycle or swim. The aim this year is to raise £30,000 overall to buy six mobility scooters for the RBL veterans village in Kent.

It has reintroduced Andrew to running for the first time since he left the Army in 2007. In his 26 years as a soldier he served in Ireland, Bosnia, Kosovo, Germany, Cyprus, in the Gulf War for a time and in Iraq.

Married to Susanne and with three grown up children, Andrew now carries out energy and other assessments for estate agents and the Sandringham and Holkham estates. He is also a community development officer for the Fenland Orchard Project and chairman of the Shedders and Fixers group.

Sponsorship forms are available from Wisbech Eco Hub and Heritage Centre and from Shedders and Fixers at the Secret Garden: also his FB page My Virtual Tommy 10K for Royal British Legion Industries.