Former Sixth Form College student pledges 350km run for the NHS

Gem O’Reilly

Former Rochdale Sixth Form College student, Gem O’Reilly is pledging to run the distance of Manchester to London to raise money for front line staff fighting Covid-19.

Gem works and lives in London but she is currently self-isolating with her parents back in Manchester due to being vulnerable to coronavirus with a heart condition.

Gem has Long QT Syndrome which is where her heart has a hereditary arrhythmia that in many athletes, when unknown, can be fatal.

Gem has spent years building her heart strength and stamina as a long distance runner, by running around 9km per day and is now pledging to run 350km to raise money for NHS staff.

She said: “I want my 9km a day to count towards helping the heroes fighting this worldwide pandemic on the front line. NHS staff are doing everything they can to combat this virus and if my run can make a small difference that extra money could contribute in some way.”

Gem has set the challenge to run 350km in 45 days by 29 May.

To help Gem’s cause for the NHS you can click here to donate:

• www.gofundme.com/f/gems-400km-for-the-nhs