Brave Scott takes on a mammoth run to boost cancer charity cause

Setting off at midnight and running 47 miles non-stop from Norwich to Great Yarmouth and back again, seems like a hard enough challenge.

To complete it with a cracked bone in your foot makes it an even more remarkable feat.

But this is what Scott Halliday achieved as part of a fundraising effort for Norfolk cancer charity Big C. The 36-year-old, from Sprowston, set off from Castle Meadow, Norwich, at midnight on Saturday, returning to the same spot, around 12 hours later.

Apart from the usual aches and pains, he did not realise he had suffered any injuries until later that evening when he was at home recovering from his exertions.

Mr Halliday, who works for a printing agency on behalf of Archant –publishers of the Evening News and EDP – noticed he had a heavily swollen foot and went to hospital on Monday morning. Doctors there X-rayed him and told him he had cracked a bone in his foot. He does not know at what point in the run he suffered the break.

He has been told the crack will heal naturally, and is not on crutches or in plaster, but has been given a course of strong painkillers.

To make matters worse, the run has also caused damage to cartilage in both his knees, which doctors have said may require surgery.

Despite his injuries, he insisted the challenge had been worthwhile.

'I have always wanted to do something that saves someone's life, no matter what happens to my body,' he said.

'I didn't want to do something easy. I wanted to push myself to the limit and running 47 miles non-stop seemed like a crazy idea. The event was bigger than me. I just wanted to raise money to save a life.'

Mr Halliday's route took him through back routes to Yarmouth, via South Walsham and Caister, to the town's racecourse, where he turned round and set back again.

As he was running through the night, he was accompanied by a colleague, Carl Wiggleworth, who drove slowly behind him, in a car, until daybreak.

Friends also supported him along the route.

And as he crossed the finish line – at around midday on Sunday – Mr Halliday, who has one daughter, two stepsons and a baby due in September, was supported by his wife Samantha, a stepson, parents, friends and members of Big C.

So far his effort has raised £700, although he hopes this total may still rise.

A Big C spokesman said: 'The money Scott has raised will certainly be put towards saving someone's life.

'Every year we award grants to our local hospitals for new cutting-edge cancer diagnostic and treatment equipment. This can go towards a grant for one of Norfolk's local hospitals.'

Big C is an independent charity delivering support, funding and services for the people of Norfolk and Waveney and funds ground-breaking research at the University of East Anglia.

Scott Halliday's donation page is open until June 17. To donate visit: uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/scotthallidayrun Are you doing something special for charity? Email newsdesk@archant.co.uk