Knutsford man finishes 1,500-mile running challenge

Last year, we told you of Andy Quicke’s efforts to run from one end of mainland Great Britain to the other in aid of the Alzheimer's Society.

Now, he has completed his 1,500-mile odyssey having reached Cape Wrath – the furthest north-westerly point of mainland Scotland – just after midnight on June 3.

Having been determined not to take the easiest or most direct route from Lizard Point in Cornwall, Andy has completed legs in the depths of winter and battled snow, ice, rivers and mountains before finishing during the recent sunny spell.

The 44-year-old, who coaches Egerton Leopards’ under nines girls’ football team, completed his challenge in a series of “legs,” even sometimes completing stages of his run at weekends after coaching the team on Saturday mornings.

Andy Quicke during one of the 16 'legs' that made up his epic adventure (Image: Contributed)

After 16 separate adventures, he is able to enjoy the fruits of his labour having smashed through his initial fundraising target of £3,500.

He was inspired to raise funds in honour of his mother Paulette, who lives with Alzheimer's but previously worked for the NHS.

“I wanted to make sure that I couldn’t turn around at the end and wish I’d done it differently,” he said.

“Every leg was different and special and a great way to commune with this great country that we live in.

“I even managed a way for my daughters Rosie and Heidi to join me on their bikes for a couple of sections which was special.”

The order that he completed the sections of his route was governed by the logistics of getting to and from each section – but it was perhaps fitting that the two final legs were the 100 miles around Land’s End and the 180 miles across the Scottish Highlands that took him to Cape Wrath at the start of June.

The former Knutsford Tri Club member, who works for Handelsbanken in financial crime prevention, is no stranger to taking on endurance challenges, fitting them in around his job and busy family life.

Four years ago he completed the Bob Graham Round, the 66 mile, 27,000 feet circuit of 42 of the highest peaks in the English Lake District within 24 hours; and he followed that up in 2019 by finishing the Paddy Buckley Round, a 100km fell running challenge in Snowdonia taking in 47 summits.

Andy’s fundraising page is still open for donations – visit justgiving.com/fundraising/andrew-quicke to donate.

He added: “Thank you to everybody who has helped, motivated me or donated so far – it wouldn’t have been the same without you all.”