A SEASONED charity runner is set to ‘bolt’ round this year’s Worcester City Run 10K course, as a part of a John O’Groats to Land’s End (JOGLE) challenge of more than 1,000 miles.
Forty-three-year-old Barinderjit ‘Barry’ Singh Cheema from Walsall is set to complete the race during his 28-day run which he hopes will raise £5,000 in funds for Midlands Langar Seva Society, which provides hot food and drink to homeless people and those in need.
Barry, otherwise known as ‘Usingh Bolt’ for his countless running accomplishments and lightning bolt poses, was inspired to attempt JOGLE after hearing a talk from endurance competitor and adventurer Sean Conway at the National Running Show in 2018.
Barry, a married IT support technician, said: “After hearing from Sean about his experience of JOGLE I made the decision last year that I was going to attempt the challenge myself. I will start the run on 26 August and will attempt to finish on 22 September. I will be running it solo but asking runners, via social media, to come and join me along the route for one mile or the whole day if they wish to.
“I’m fundraising for Midlands Langar Seva Society, a charity started in 2013 by two Sikh brothers to help the homeless and those in society less well off. Across the UK and internationally, they organize Langar – free kitchen – which in Sikhism is providing vegetarian food to anyone regardless of social standing, religion, age etc. They go out every evening in many towns and cities providing food to those in need, regularly providing over 20,000 meals a week.”
Barry, a member of Aldridge Running Club in Walsall, is no stranger to tough road running challenges. In 2014 he ran six full and 14 half marathons for Macmillan Cancer Support in eight months, raising just under £4,000, and in 2017 he ran 10 10Ks, 10 half marathons, 10 full marathons and one 24-hour race, raising £17,000 for the Stroke Association in the process.
It was during this more recent fund-raising bid that Barry first competed in the Worcester City 10K.
“I remember the great support on the day and the chance to meet 401 Marathon man Ben Smith before the start. The main highlight was starting my sprint finish at the end and high-fiving Steve Cram as I approached the line,” he said.
“I wanted to incorporate the race into my new challenge, so on Saturday, September 14 I will be doing my home parkrun at Walsall Arboretum before running to Worcester. The next day I will run the 10K where I will be joined by a number of my club colleagues and other friends who will be taking part, before I then run the next JOGLE leg to Stroud.”
Visit https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/UsinghBolt2019 for more.
Entries for this year’s Air Products Worcester City Run events are now open at www.worcestercityrun.com
