A FORMER Redditch resident is currently running across the Sahara Desert to raise money for his best friend’s daughter.
Rob Mullen set himself the goal of running a total 500 miles through completing a series of marathons and ultra-marathons to raise money for the daughter of his best friend Jamie Osborne of Webheath.
Just now he’s doing his final run – 156 miles across the Sahara Desert – in the Marathon des Sables which ends of October 11.
Jamie and his wife Lisa’s daughter Chloe was diagnosed with Quadriplegic Cerebral Palsy shortly after being born ten weeks premature.
The couple, who also have two sons, William and Ethan, had been expecting twins, but they lost Chloe’s sister Phoebe, and Chloe herself weighed less than three pounds when she was born.
Now, aged five, Chloe is unable to walk or talk and recently endured a bi-lateral hip reconstruction surgery.
Rob, who now lives in Bath, decided to set himself the challenge of running 500 miles to help inspire donations for Chloe and her family.
Currently, the money raised is paying for much needed physiotherapy sessions for Chloe following her hip reconstruction surgery.
Rob has always been a runner and set himself a target of raising £30,000 to help Chloe.
“Jamie and I have been friends since we were at school and he has helped me through some of the more difficult periods in my life,” he said.
“I really wanted to find a way to help and raise funds and this challenge was the perfect way to do it.
“If I need a reminder of why I am doing this challenge, I always think about Chloe and her family.”
Jamie, of Redditch-based resin bound driveway company Oltco, said: “As a family we are so grateful for the support that Rob has given us and the efforts he has gone to in order to raise money for Chloe is truly amazing.
“Chloe regularly sees physiotherapists, speech and language therapists, occupational therapists and neurologists which has been making a positive difference to Chloe’s life.
“We want Chloe to not just survive but thrive and the money raised so far has been allowing us to help her do that, which we are incredibly appreciative of.”
Visit https://bit.ly/2YkLif4 to donate.
