Aston Villa season ticket holder Mark Shanahan is taking on a unique charity challenge on Saturday.
The 30-year-old, from Sutton, is completing his 14th marathon of the year but on a course designed by himself and very close to his heart – 30 laps around the streets of Villa Park!
Mark set himself the challenge of running 20 marathons in 2020 to raise vital funds for St Giles Hospice.
The fundraising idea came following the death of his uncle last year due to cancer and a desire to help the hospice and the valuable work they do in the local community.
Mark had ran five of his 20 organised marathons before the COVID-19 pandemic struck, cancelling planned events and leaving him to create his own local routes to complete the challenge.
He’s duly ran marathons around Sutton Park, to the Bull Ring and back and also around both his back garden and front driveway – raising more than £7,500 to date and smashing his original target.
But Saturday’s challenge is one which takes on special significance for Mark, who comes from a Villa-mad family and has been a season ticket holder since 1999.
“I’ll have my Villa shirt on obviously,” he said.
“I’ve got the ’92 retro one with the lacing.
“I’ll be running around the roads, the closest loop to the ground, I measured it out online, which is 0.9 miles.
“So if I do 30 loops of that then that will add up to a marathon.”
Mark continued: “It’s going to be great.
“I’ve been a season ticket holder for so many years, I really miss the place.
“It’s not quite the same watching games on TV, I really miss the atmosphere and the whole matchday experience, going down with family and friends, having a few drinks and soaking up the atmosphere – that’s what it’s all about.
“I’m looking forward to just seeing the ground again and it will give me an extra boost.
“I know it’s 30 loops, people could think it’s monotonous, but around Villa Park – I couldn’t think of a better loop to do.”
You can show your support for Mark and donate to his charity challenge, click here.
