Councillor Chris Furlong presents Springhill Hospice with cheque for £625

Councillor Chris Furlong presenting Julie Perry, Corporate Service Manager at Springhill Hospice with the cheque

Councillor Chris Furlong has presented Springhill Hospice with a cheque for £625.

Councillor Furlong said: “My family, like so many across the borough, have relied on the specialist care at Springhill Hospice when it was needed the most.

“It was nice to give them something back for all the time, dedication, effort and hard work the many volunteers put in for families right across the borough and beyond." 

Barbara Lloyd, Community Support Fundraiser, said: "We can’t thank Chris enough for the money that he has raised for Springhill. To take on one race like this is a challenge, so to sign up for three is a really amazing feat. It is only with support like this, from wonderful fundraisers like Chris, that we can keep our doors open and our services free.”  

Earlier this year, the Middleton councillor took on three races to raise money for The Lighthouse Project Middleton, Springhill Hospice and Heywood Guides Senior Section. Each charity will receive just over £625 after the councillor managed to raise just shy of £1,900 in total, including Gift Aid.

In April, Councillor Furlong completed the Bolton 10k before taking on the Great Manchester Run in May. He knocked almost 32 minutes off last years’ time, setting his personal best at 53.04.

Two months later, Councillor Furlong took on the third and final race: his first half-marathon at Southport, which he completed in one hour 57 minutes and 22 seconds.

Over the last decade, Councillor Furlong has raised over £100,000 pounds for charities such as Help for Heroes, Sandon House, Parkinson UK, Cancer Research UK, PTA Groups, Macmillan Cancer Care, Christie Hospital and scout groups.

His fundraising efforts, which have ranged from fairs and coffee mornings to race nights and fashion shows, have also helped raise funds for local football teams, community centres, schools and churches.

In 2012, Councillor Furlong won an ‘Above and Beyond’ award at the Bibby Line Group for raising £25,000 in one year.