Forest Town woman taking part in 24 hour challenge to raise charity cash

On Friday, September 18 at 6pm, Jo Dawson from will start a 24-hour charity fundraiser ultra challenge that will involve running, walking and crawling her way around the perimeter of Ashfield RUFC's rugby pitches, which is about 0.4 miles - over and over and over again.

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She will be completing the challenge to raise funds for The Firefighter's Charity as well as Ashfield RUFC and has already raised £655 out of her £700 goal.

Jo said: “I’m a firefighter myself and the Firefighter's Charity looked after me when I dislocated my shoulder, funnily enough, playing rugby about three years ago.

“They took care of me up at their rehab centre in Penrith, so I have always wanted to do some fundraising for them.”

She added: “Ashfield Rugby Club is something that I have been involved with for years.

“I was part of the team that managed to get the funding for the new clubhouse in Ashfield.

“I knew that both charities have struggled, particularly with Covid-19 so I thought that doing something for both of them would help.”

The inspiration for the challenge came when Jo was thinking about what she could do to raise money after a previous challenge that she was due to take part in was cancelled, as a result of Covid-19.

Jo eventually came up with the idea of doing a run around the pitches at the rugby club for six hours but decided that it was not challenging enough and finally settled with a 24-hour solo event to raise important funds.

Jo said: “Obviously I am doing this because I am crazy.

“I know it will be mentally and physically tough, but I am hoping it will raise some much-needed funds for two important charities.

“On the bright side, it’s an ultra where I can’t get lost.”

To prepare herself for the big day, Jo completed a practice run last week throughout the day and night for around 14 hours as well as some practice laps around her local area to see how this would impact her.

The firefighter said that she is ‘massively’ grateful for the donations that she has received so far as well as the people that are going along to support her during the event.

She said: “I’d just like to say a massive thank you.

“It’s so kind of them and for a lot of people, time and money is very precious particularly at the moment so for the people that are coming along and running with me or supporting me or have donated it’s very helpful.

“It’s just incredibly kind, and the charities appreciate it as do I.

She added: “I’m really humbled by your support, I can’t quite believe it.”

If you would like to support Jo and the charities that she is raising money for, you can visit her sponsorship page at paypal.me/pools/c/8s5aG5Gke4.

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