Ercol finance director completes gruelling 50km run for Step 2 It

David Finch, finance director at British furniture manufacturer Ercol, has completed a gruelling 50km run across the picturesque landscape of the Chiltern Hills, raising money for the Step 2 It campaign.

The Chiltern 50 is an annual event held at the Henley Showground, which this year took place on Saturday 25 September.

Participants can opt to walk, jog or run the looped route, which takes you through nature reserves, forests, and steep rolling hills amid the beautiful Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire countryside. David, who enjoys long distance running, opted to run the course and was joined by his friend, Darren Barrett.

David completed the 32-mile race in five hours and 45 minutes, with his fitness tracker showing he ascended a whopping 850m of elevation during the challenge.

David said: “The Chiltern 50 was a fantastic event run by a really good organisation who supported you throughout. Having done similar runs in the past I knew what to expect but that doesn’t make the cramp any easier. After being welcomed to the start, we embarked on a lively warm up before heading through the fields and woods that make up the majority of the route.  There were many participants either walking, jogging or running the route to achieve their own personal challenge over multiple start waves. The atmosphere was great throughout with many of the walking participants encouraging you as you pass.”

David has been raising money for our charity in the build up to the event and to date has received £1190 in sponsorship, exceeding his target of £1,000.

He added: “As fatigue and cramp set in, knowing I was raising money for a really worthy cause help to keep me going.  It was a mighty relief when entering the last field, seeing the finishing line in sight and being cheered home by family.”

You can congratulate David for his fantastic effort by sponsoring him via JustGiving: https://justgiving.com/fundraising/DavidFinchErcol