Peterborough running fanatic to complete half-marathon every day in January in dad’s memory

The Access to Employment Project, which has given more than 1,000 young people access to specialised and tailored employment support, was started by Glenn who died last year.

Glenn had worked at the YMCA for nearly 20 years and loved working with young people. He thrived on developing people’s skills and challenging them to take on new responsibilities.

YMCA Trinity Group is a local charity which helps young people to realise their full potential on their journey to independence.

Brad will be joined by friends Michael and Jamie for his charity challenge, with each person covering 406.1 miles to make a combined total of 1,218.3 miles – the equivalent of running from York to Algeria.

They have already beaten their initial target to raise £1 for every mile completed in January and have currently raised more than £1,500.

Brad said: “On January 3, 2021, it was one year since my dad passed away and I am so thankful to be able to raise funds to go towards something he was deeply passionate about.

“As part of the Access to Employment project, YMCA Trinity Group offers a one-to-one service with CV help, supported job searching, interview techniques and access to local job opportunities. It’s an honour to be able to run for such a worthy cause and something that my dad was so heavily involved in starting.”

“We are completely overwhelmed by the support we have received from everyone and are all determined to keep pushing on. I have no doubt that we will get to the 1,218 mile mark and I’m so grateful to both Michael and Jamie for joining me on this journey.”

Brad also hopes to create the ‘Glenn Simmons Fund’ which will be able to offer young people an opportunity to access resources that they cannot afford themselves.

Jonathan Martin, chief executive of YMCA Trinity Group, said: “Glenn was always so passionate about young people having the right tools to succeed. It’s amazing that Brad is doing this to raise money to help provide those tools. Glenn would be proud.”

Each year, YMCA Trinity Group supports around 10,000 young and vulnerable people and communities across Peterborough, Cambridgeshire and Suffolk. Its primary aim is to enable every young person to grow and develop, running initiatives that tackle issues such as youth engagement, youth offending, mental health, access to employment, domestic violence and crisis support.

Other community services provided by YMCA Trinity Group include health, fitness and wellbeing facilities, training and education, childcare, youth work, accommodation and venue hire.

In the past, Brad has run across the Ica Desert in Peru, competing at the Half Marathon Des Sables.

To make a donation, visit: http://bit.ly/1200miles_for_Glenn.