When it came to raising money for a good cause, charity champ Laura Bland was determined to go the extra mile. And the long-serving Jigsaw resource and development manager clocked up 43 of them as she took part in a gruelling endurance run.
Laura was taking part in the Equinox 24, an event which saw over 2,000 runners attempt to complete as many laps of a 6-mile circuit as they could in 24 hours.
Despite pouring rain and slippery mud underfoot, the 38-year-old mum managed to complete the route around Belvoir Castle, in Leicestershire, seven times.
More importantly, her effort raised much-needed funds for BLESMA, a charity which helps all serving and ex-Service men and women who have lost limbs, or the use of limbs or eyes, to rebuild their lives by providing rehabilitation activities and welfare support.
It’s a cause which is close to Laura’s heart, as her partner Leigh lost part of his own leg while serving in the RAF.
“Since Leigh’s amputation, BLESMA have been absolutely fantastic and supported us a number of times including providing funding for a wheel chair,” she says. ‘“The prospect of a 24-hour endurance run was pretty daunting, as I’d never done anything like it before, but I felt I really wanted to do something to raise awareness of the charity and give something back.”
Laura, who first joined Jigsaw as a senior operations coordinator in 2006, says she got into shape by training with her seven-year-old daughter Callie on the streets of Loughborough.
“Callie had more sense than me, though – she was on her bike. But we make a great team, and I’m hoping she’ll help me get in shape for when I enter the event next year.”
For more details about BLESMA, visit blesma.org.
