Duncan swops his mayoral chain for a bicycle chain for the month of March

Councillor Duncan Kerr is heading up a new 3M challenge - Marching in March in The Marches - to raise money for Hope House Hospice.

He is hoping that others will take up the challenge, which involve walking, running or cycling a choice of three distances over this month.

Councillor Duncan Kerr said: “At the start of my term I announced I would be donating my entire mayoral allowance to the Shropshire Domestic Abuse Service, but I also wanted to do something to support Hope House Children’s Hospice.

"Along with many other charities they have lost a lot in income during the pandemic. It's taken a bit of creative thinking to design a Covid-compliant event, but I am delighted to launch the first of what I hope will become an annual event in the Oswestry Calendar the 3M challenge: Marching in March in the Marches."

He said that the challenge had three levels so everyone can participate.

The objective is to complete 10 challenges by walking, running or cycling, or a mixture of all three, locally during the month of March.

Choose

"For the M1 level, the length of the challenges are one kilometre, two kilometres, three kilometres - up to 10km. For the M2 level it is 11 kilometres up to 20 kilometres and for the M3 level is is 21-31 kilometres - after all there are 31 days in March.

"You have maximum flexibility you can choose your route, the days you exercise and the order you complete them in. From M1 which involves running or cycling just over 55 km over the month of March; to the M3 challenge which is nearly 300 km of running or cycling in the same month.

"Whatever distance you do the mental and physical health benefits are significant."

Full details of the challenge, along with sponsorship forms and information on how to enter it are available at Hope House website hopehouse.org.uk Entry is just £10, with every penny raised paid directly to Hope House.

"We hope that participants will share the highs and lows of participating on the social media accounts of both these organisations and search for Marching in March in the Marches on social media."

Lynsey Kilvert Fundraising Manager of Hope House added "The past year has been really challenging for us. Our shops doors have been closed and our fundraising events cancelled. We ended 2020 facing £1.37 million in lost income and our finances continue to struggle as we begin 2021. We are so grateful to the Mayor of Oswestry for choosing to support Hope House with his 3M challenge. Only with the help of wonderful supporters like Councillor Duncan Kerr, will Hope House be there for every local child that needs us."