Kirkham eight-year-old takes on half marathon for Rosemere

At just eight years old, Kirkham’s William Coward has conquered his first half marathon.

In the process, he raised £950 for Rosemere Cancer Foundation, and has earned himself a Bronze Beaver Personal Challenge badge.

William achieved an impressive time of two hours and 10 minutes for the over 13 mile distance.

William, who plays football for YMCA Lytham and rugby at Fylde Rugby Club, split his half marathon into two stages.

He ran from home around Kirkham with godfather Paul Eccles having already raced along Lytham’s seafront accompanied by dad Andrew, who cycled alongside him.

His mum Caroline said: “William wanted to run the whole distance in one go but we insisted he halved it.

“William is a huge force of energy. He has inspired me to run the 5k adult park run, which he also now participates in.

“It was William’s idea to run a half marathon and raise money for Rosemere Cancer Foundation, a charity close to our family’s heart, as a sign off from beavers as he has just moved up to the 2nd Kirkham cub pack.

“We are extremely proud of him and very grateful to everyone, who supported him so generously.

“When my grandmother was then herself diagnosed with cancer just
before William was born, she benefited from treatment at Rosemere Cancer Centre and the support of Rosemere Cancer Foundation. The care she received allowed her to enjoy the first five years of William’s life.”

It was William’s late great-grandma Lillian Benson, of Kirkham, who began the family tradition of fundraising for Rosemere Cancer Foundation back in March 1997 when the charity first launched to support the newly opened Rosemere Cancer Centre, Lancashire and South Cumbria’s specialist regional cancer treatment centre at the Royal Preston Hospital.

Lillian, her sisters and friends worked tirelessly, raising £90,000.

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