A mega fit dad from Boston in Lincolnshire is attempting a superhuman challenge to benefit children in his native Poland and Skegness – running totally unsupported for a whopping 1,250 miles across Europe.
Grzegorz Pacho is due to begin his mammoth challenge on August 17.
Starting at the Shelter-Lniana in Łódź, in Poland – near where he is originally from – Grzegorz is aiming to put in 70 miles a day taking him all the way back to Skegness, where the long-running Derbyshire Children’s Holiday Centre is based.
He will be benefiting two children’s causes with his running: the Shelter-Lniana and the Derbyshire Children’s Holiday Centre.
The Derbyshire Children’s Holiday Centre has been going since 1891 and provides fully funded four-night stays at its Skegness centre including accommodation, meals, activities and transport for Derbyshire children who may not otherwise get a break. Children are nominated to attend through their school if it is felt they would benefit from the experience.
Many are experiencing financial hardship or other challenging circumstances such as bereavement or caring for relatives. Others are nominated to help build confidence, independence and friendships.
The Lniana children’s home provides care for youngsters who are unable to grow up in family homes. Many have been placed into care by court order because of abuse, neglect, addiction or unsafe family circumstances.
Grzegorz’s run will take him through Poland, Germany, The Netherlands, Belgium, France and the UK. To make life even harder for himself he is undertaking the whole thing completely unsupported – carrying no cash or bank cards and relying on the kindness of strangers en route.
Grzegorz said he would only be carrying essential equipment and first aid supplies as he attempts to wrap up the whole challenge in under 20 days.
A volunteer team will follow his progress remotely, while supporters will be able to contribute towards necessities such as food and overnight accommodation.
He said: “I’m trying to do something that I don’t think anyone ever before decided to do. Poland is where I was born and Britain is where I have spent most of my adult life. Supporting children in both countries is my way of showing that kindness does not stop at national borders.
“This is my way of giving something back to the communities that have shaped my life and helping children who deserve the chance of a better future, wherever they happen to have been born.
“The limits of the human body are much further away than our minds often tell us. If this run can change the life of even one child or give hope to one young person, then every single mile will have been worth it.”
This is not the first time Grzegorz has undertaken an endurance challenge. He has previously from the Vatican City in Rome to Warsaw – just over 1,000 miles – as well as climbing Mont Blanc.
He has been preparing for around eight months alongside his job working 12-hour shifts as a factory worker.
Having lived in Lincolnshire for more than 26 years, he has worked in a range of jobs including interpreting in hospitals, courts and police stations, running his own restaurant and taxi company and working in property and food industries.
Janine Holmes, CEO of the Derbyshire Children’s Holiday Centre, said: “Wow – we’ve had some incredible fundraisers over the years but this one from Grzegorz is absolutely remarkable. We are blown away that he is attempting this incredible feat for our benefit and for another very worthy cause in Poland. Hats off to him for taking it on and we’ll be cheering him on every step of the way. We’re beyond grateful he’s doing this for us and we hope that plenty of people will support him. It will all go towards putting smiles on the faces of the children we help, paying for more vital holidays that do so much for these children’s confidence and future prospects.”
To donate to Grzegorz’s challenge, visit: https://www.justgiving.com/page/grzegorz-pacho-1?utm_medium=FR&utm_source=CL.
You can also follow his progress here: https://www.facebook.com/share/19K6VHm8jg/.
