A group of Alberbury Young Farmers will run around the boundary edge of  Shropshire this weekend (September 30 – October 2) to raise money for three great charities.

The three day challenge will repeat a feat originally accomplished in 1979 by four farming brothers Jim, Philip, Robert and Peter Davies to raise money for Lingen Davies Cancer Appeal and their local church at Alberbury.

Decades later some of their offspring and other friends are running again this time raising money for the British Heart Foundation, RSH  Ward 22 and The Alzheimers Society, which are for various reasons charities close to their hearts.

The original run around the edge – a distance of 240 miles – took the four brothers four days. Supported by their Mum,  Mary Davies, and friends Ann Stokes and Doreen Parry, they ate and slept in a small caravan towed by the farm Land Rover and relied on the goodness of the Young Farmer network for showers. They raised £1600 as reward for their efforts.
Fast forward and the brothers, who all still live in the Alberbury area, are now supporting the next generation in a similar challenge.

“This time round Jim and Robert will be driving a more luxurious camper van courtesy of Shropshire Motorhome Hire who are based in Alberbury,” said Jim’s wife Pat Davies.
“The idea came from Peter’s 20 year old son Ben who will be joined by his younger brother Tim, cousins Rebecca, Christopher and Suzie and eleven other members of Alberbury Young Farmers,” she explained.

Running six-mile stints in pairs they aim to cover the distance in three days and hopefully raise thousands of pounds for their chosen charities.
Nick Williams, a planning consultant with Berrys is joining the runners and has been training hard with the group over the past few months to meet the challenge.
The run starts from Alberbury Village Hall at 6.30am on Friday, September 30.

Anyone wishing to help can contribute at  www.Justgiving.com/teams/RunningOnTheEdge