A married couple from Bury is hoping to overcome a 10k challenge this month with the goal of raising money for an animal charity.

Animal lovers Becky, 37, and Matt Chambers-Nolan, 35, will be taking on the Great Manchester Run on Sunday, May 21, in aid of The Donkey Sanctuary after a boost of motivation to reach their fitness goals.

Following the pandemic, Matt said he became out of shape from working from home, and Becky added that despite trying the "Couch to 5k" scheme, she had lacked the motivation to see it through.

The pair decided to try the 5k programme together, and over time and before they reached the target, they started talking about increasing their distance even further.

Becky said: “Completing this race will be the biggest physical achievement either of us have accomplished.

“We are determined not to walk any of the race and want to run the whole thing from start to finish.”

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Having set their sights on the Manchester 10k the pair wanted to choose a good cause to raise money for along the way and agreed on The Donkey Sanctuary.

A spokesperson from The Donkey Sanctuary said: “To cement their choice, they both visited our Manchester sanctuary and spent several hours meeting the resident herd and finding out about the work of the charity.

Bury Times: Becky, 37, and Matt Chambers-Nolan, 35,Becky, 37, and Matt Chambers-Nolan, 35, (Image: The Donkey Sanctuary)

“Matt also had the chance to meet his adopted donkey, Tiny Tim, at the centre, who was the first to come over and see them when they arrived.

“Becky also discovered her new donkey friend Peggy, who followed her around and rested her head against her wherever she stood.

“Their meeting with the resident donkeys in Manchester must have spurred them on, as the next time out they completed their first full 5k run and were well on their way to their biggest challenge yet.”

The couple have been training at their gym during which time, they both caught Covid, suffered from a training injury and found time to plan their wedding and get married.

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They now have sessions with a personal trainer and aim to run and work out at least three times a week, as well as add in a weekly 1km swim.

Becky said “To anyone out there who thinks that they can't achieve something like this, start slowly and work your way up gradually and you would be amazed at what you can achieve with perseverance and determination.”

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