Rochdale women run just shy of two marathons in 48 hours for local children's mental health service

Louise Whittaker (right) and her friend Jemma Dransfield (left) who completed the 4x4x48 David Goggins Running Challenge

Two women from Rochdale have run 48 miles in 48 hours, raising over £1,200 for Healthy Young Minds at Birch Hill Hospital.

Louise Whittaker, a supported families worker, and her friend Jemma Dransfield, a dance teacher, completed the 4x4x48 challenge, created by retired Navy Seal and ultrarunner David Goggins – running four miles every four hours in 48 hours (4x4x48) – over the first weekend of May.

Due to their jobs working with children, Jemma and Louise decided to raise £500 for the Healthy Young Minds service, smashing this by reaching £1,320 at the time of publication.

Whilst both women frequently run, they found the challenge difficult due to the format of the task, which saw them run the equivalent of just under of two marathons.

Formerly known as CAMHS, Healthy Young Minds provides specialist services to children and young people who are experiencing mental health difficulties whilst providing support for families and carers.

Louise said: “With what we both do for a living, we want to raise whatever we can for Healthy Young Minds at Birch Hill Hospital due to the increasing number of children struggling with their mental health. With everything that has gone on, mental health is so important, especially in younger people, and I think they sometimes get forgotten.

“We set out to raise £500 so the amount we raised has totally exceeded our expectations; we didn’t expect to raise so much so it feels like a really good achievement.

“It was definitely one of the hardest things I’ve ever done.”

They were welcomed by friends at Norden cenotaph at the end of the last run, who congratulated them for their efforts.

Donations can still be made via JustGiving at:

• www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/jemma-louise-run