A football fan is running one mile for every goal scored each day during the World Cup to raise money for two charities.
Tom Wilmott said he was fundraising for Brain Tumour Support and Compton Care hospice in Wolverhampton as although the tournament was an exciting time, many people were not able to enjoy it due to illness or personal challenges.
He has run 121 miles in 11 days so far – his longest being 19 miles in one day – and raised £1,635 towards a £2,000 target.
As the last round of the group stages approach and four games a day ramp up to six, he said he would “just have to do a lot of running” despite the heatwave this week.
Wilmott, from Manchester, said he had been running around his job and been getting up at about 05:00 to fit miles in before work and finishing with a run later in the evening.
As the weather heats up, he said he would stick to that routine to be able to cope with the heat.
“The main reason I’m doing it, the main thing that keeps me motivated is the World Cup is just such a great time, for me the buzz and all the excitement around it, it almost feels like Christmas,” he said.
But he said it was important to think about those who loved the World Cup but were not able to enjoy it because of their own or someone else’s illness.
“Similarly there’s people who would love nothing more but to go for a run.
“I’m so blessed that I’m able to go out and run 10 miles – some people would say crazy – but I still have that opportunity and that’s why I think it’s important..”
He said he had chosen the charities having lived in the West Midlands for two years and becoming aware of the work they do.
He has been posting his runs on @runtheworldcup on Instagram and described his epic 19 miles in one day as “a sore one”, but apart from feeling a little tired so far, he has not suffered with any injuries.
However, looking at historic data for the tournament and factoring in the expanded team format this year, he said he had been expecting an average of three goals a game.
“Going for the grand total, that probably means there’s 300 goals, he said.
“I think that’s over a 38-day period, which doesn’t seem as bad, but most of the games will happen in the group stage.
“Currently there’s four matches a day and for the last round of the group stages it’s actually six matches a day…. so that’s going to be absolutely brutal.”
But he said if he reaches his fundraising target of £2,000 by Sunday after the group stage, he would add goals scored in penalties to his challenge.
He said he was committed to his cause and had had positive feedback from people saying he had inspired them.
“I’m confident I will complete it and I can’t give up on people I’m raising money for he said.
“I think I’m the only person in the country who doesn’t want a hot summer this year though.”
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