Runner finishes 150 mile route in memory of friend

A man who ran from London to Somerset in memory of a friend who died in a roofing accident, said he was overwhelmed by the support he received.

Aaron Close, 27, completed the 150 mile (241km) challenge from Westminster to Keynsham on 14 March to raise money for Great Western Air Ambulance (GWAA).

Mr Close said he was "inseparable" from his childhood friend, Luke Allen, who died in 2018 in a roofing accident in Bristol.

"It never really kicked in what we were doing until we were at the finishing line - it was such a morale booster to see how many people were backing us to get this run finished," said Mr Close.

Two other friends, Robbie Dury and Joel Milhofer, took part in the 72-hour run, with rests at hotels along the way.

"Everywhere we went people were really kind; we had free hotel stays and access to their gyms and spas," said Mr Close.

"The boys who were in the support van were so helpful, running from point to point; it made it a lot easier for us."

Mr Close and his friends set themselves the challenge in honour of Mr Allen's 30th birthday, which would have been in May this year.

"When we started seeing the areas that we knew, through Bath and coming into Keynsham and up to The New Inn and seeing the amount of people who were there, that was it, that was when it hit home," he said.

The team has raised £13,830 for GWAA.

"Luke passed away in their hands on the way to hospital and afterwards they were really, really good with his family, and they kept the support there for years and they're still there now," added Mr Close.

Holly Sheehan, Mr Allen's sister, said: "I am so proud of Aaron, Robbie and Joel for their amazing achievement.

"Seeing them come over the finishing line was so emotional, they took on something so huge and raised so much in memory of Luke."

Mr Close said he hoped to organise a "bigger" challenge in the future, once family and friends of Mr Allen had had a chance to celebrate his anniversary.

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