The University of Central Lancashire’s (UCLan) sports medicine team of physiotherapists and exercise physiologists is gearing up to support a serving member of the Coldstream Guards attempt to break a world record for charity.

On 18 June, Richard Perkins will begin a run of 874 miles from Land’s End to John o’ Groats. 

His aim is to break the current Guinness World Record, which stands at nine days and two hours.

To help in his quest, a carefully selected group of skilled and experienced physiotherapists and physiologists from UCLan will support the serviceman along the route.  

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Leading the UCLan support team is Head of Performance and Rehabilitation Medicine Karen May, a first-choice physiotherapist of many British fell and mountain runners.

Joining her will be UCLan physiotherapists Russell Hitchin and Adam Cook, both with extensive experience in sports injuries and rehabilitation, together with the University’s Jo Rycroft, a clinical physiologist providing support in relation to performance monitoring and nutrition. 

Commenting on the UCLan team’s involvement, Karen said: “I treat a lot of fell and mountain runners, so Richard was recommended to speak to me. Once we found out about the plans we just had to help. 

“It’s for such a great cause and we want to provide Richard with the best possible support so he can complete this amazing challenge and hopefully break a world record at the same time.”

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Richard said: “With Karen heading up the physio team from UCLan I know I’m in safe hands. On average I will need to cover more than 150km a day to break the current world record of nine days and two hours.

“Without an experienced and dedicated team of physiotherapists and medics it simply wouldn’t be possible. Karen’s impressive expertise in this field and her experience working with professional athletes makes her, and the UCLan team, the ideal people to work with on this world record attempt.” 

To create the record, it’s likely Richard will be pounding the roads for virtually 24 hours a day, so the UCLan team will split into pairs with each working 12-hour support shifts.

In addition to setting up regular pitstops the UCLan team will assist in areas such as blister prevention, soft tissue analysis, manual therapy and blood flow in the lower limbs. The UCLan physios will also make use of a cryotherapy compression garment to help reenergise Richard’s tired limbs.

If everything goes well the determined serviceman will be passing through Lancashire on 22 or 23 June, as the final route is still being determined.  

It’s hoped the charity run will raise £10,000 and go some way to help provide a dedicated holiday space and support for former Guardsmen and their families.

To find out more about Richard’s challenge, follow him on Facebook @stravalejogchallenge or to help him reach his £10,000 target visit JustGiving

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