Eddie Coleman, 47, and his son, Lewis, 16, from Essex have completed a major new fundraising fitness challenge from Help for Heroes, called Step 2 It, having pledged to do 10,000 steps (7 miles) a day for 30 days. However, as they’re both sporty and fit they decided to maximise the challenge by running it every day as a long-distance run, rather than walking it. This means that at the end of the 30 days they will have run 210 miles or the equivalent of two marathons each week.
Lewis was particularly keen to raise funds for Help for Heroes as, with a keen interest in engineering, he has decided he would like a career in the Royal Navy. Having just completed his GCSE year he has applied for a Royal Navy scholarship and is currently working his way through the selection process. Lewis has known many ex-servicemen and women through family and friends and has the understanding of how important it is to support servicemen, women and their families through difficult times, whether this is as a result of injury during service or mental health struggles.
Lewis says, “I wanted to do Step 2 It for Help for Heroes as our family has always supported the charity and I realised that it’s more important now than ever, with the pandemic, to raise funds to help wounded veterans. Also, if I’m successful in my career, one day I may need help from the very same charity so I wanted to be able to pay it forward. It’s been great to do, spending time with my dad, motivating each other and getting to know each other better. I also feel a lot fitter now so I’d really recommend that other people go for it! ”
To sign up to Step 2 It people just need to visit Step2It.helpforheroes.org.uk and pledge to do 10,000 steps a day (or an alternative distance to suit them) for 30 days, starting on the day of their choice and getting sponsors to support their challenge. Eddie and Lewis have already smashed their £100 fundraising target, having raised almost £550 to date but are keen to raise more. To support their challenge please go to their fundraising page: https://www.givepenny.com/edwardcoleman_step_2_it_manual_10_000_steps
Lewis is an avid athlete and regularly runs with Eddie. When time allows, he also runs with Chafford Hundred Running Group where Eddie is a running leader.
Eddie, who is a Police Officer in the Essex Police, adds, “I have never served in the Armed Forces, but I know people that have and I work in public service myself. I know how vital support can be for those serving their country, both for them and their families. I wanted to do something with my son, working together towards a common goal. I wanted us to experience a challenge where we could support each other through it – making our relationship as father and son even stronger than it already is. We looked through various challenges together – and we both decided that Step 2 It was the one for us!”
While the father and son team are distance runners, running seven miles a day, every day, for 30 consecutive days is still a challenge. They planned their running meticulously, talking about hydration and nutrition and altering their diets to ensure that they would be eating the right food to maintain their energy levels for a sustained period. They have also put recovery runs into their plans, tending to do two fast runs and then a slower recovery run to minimise fatigue and keep them injury free.
In addition, they have had to work their runs around Eddie’s shift work and Lewis’s summer job at a summer sport camp. The flexibility of Step 2 It has made this feasible, although on one day, with Eddie having to do an 18-hour shift, they ran twice in 12 hours in order to keep up with the challenge.
Eddie comments, “With running every day our legs have got tired, but what has been great is that, because we’re doing this together, we’ve motivated each other. Sometimes I’m quicker but sometimes it’s Lewis in front – it all depends how you feel on the day. But I would really recommend signing up to Step 2 It with someone else, as running with Lewis made it a really enjoyable and special experience.”
David Martin, Head of Supporter Fundraising at Help for Heroes, concludes, “What a great team Eddie and Lewis are. It’s fantastic to hear how they’ve made Step 2 It their own and had such a great time doing it together. And, with our income forecast to be down by 40% as a result of COVID-19, we are so grateful for them choosing to support us.”