Haines hopes for final surge ahead of last leg

(CNS): As Derek Haines limbers up and prepares for the final marathon in his incredible challenge, the veteran distance runner is hoping for a run on donations for his fundraising goal. Earlier this year Haines set himself an almighty task to raise $1 million in order to build an inpatient care facility for the local hospice charity. Now, having completed five marathons around the world, his sixth and final leg of the challenge will be on home soil on Sunday 7 December. But with just eleven days to go, Haines still needs a further $180k to be pledged to meet the target. Having pounded the pavements in Europe and the US to generate over $820,000, the goal is almost in sight.

Hoping to inspire the community, Val Strang has written a short poem (posted below) in support of Haines as many of the marathon man’s friends are rallying to help rustle up the necessary donations to reach the million dollar mark.

Haines has completed marathons in Paris, London, Pamplona, San Francisco and Dublin and will run in front of a home crowd on 7 December.

“As I come over the tape in the marathon I want to know that we’ve also come over the tape in the million dollars,” Haines recently said, as he urged people to help make what seemed like a pie-in-the-sky dream at the start of the year a reality.

For more informaiton or to make a donation go to six4hospice.com