A 65 year old man from Christchurch is running 31 miles this January to raise money for Motor Neurone Disease.
Cliffe Tribe embarked on the journey due to noting a lack of a cure for the disease and a tendency for the disease to be forgotten in comparison to cancer research.
Tribe said: “Once you have Motor Neurone Disease, it is a death sentence really.”, thus indicating the severity of the disease.
In order to add interest to his journey, Cliffe is running round sporting stadiums and venues as he travels up and down the country due to his occupation.
He has had the privilege of running through Stanley Park and around Anfield, as well as other stadiums including Headingley, with a poingnant link to ex Leeds Rhinos star Rob Burrow, who passed away from the disease in 2024.
In order to finish his journey, Tribe has been given permission by Oxford University on the final day in January, to run on the track whereby Roger Bannister broke the record for the four minute mile back in 1954.
The journey also has a personal meaning for Tribe, who saw his father’s friend pass away from the illness at the age of 50.
Tribe said: “He was a fit guy and gone in no time, it really is a cruel disease.’
Further to this, Cliffe also has links to Hamworthy United, whose manager Dan Cann was diagnosed with the disease in August last year and to mark this, Cliffe will be running round the grounds of Hamworthy United and Hamworthy Recreation FC on his journey.
Cliffe Tribe has done other charity work in addition to this over the years, with notable achievements including raising £5,000 for the Big Issue in 2019 after running the London Marathon, as well as raising £3,500 for guide dogs when running ten miles around Wimborne blindfolded and aided by a guide runner.
As of the 21st January, Cliffe Tribe has raised £670 out of his £1,500 target and hopes to hit that goal as he perseveres through his journey.
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