Widower plans six races in cricket gear for charity

Rich Williman, a widower from Pocklington, is running six distance events in six months while wearing full cricket gear—including pads, cap, gloves, and carrying a bat—to honor his late wife Erika, who died of stage four bowel cancer. His challenge, which begins with the London Marathon and concludes with the Ipswich Half Marathon, aims to raise money for the Ruth Strauss Foundation, a charity supporting children who are losing a parent to cancer. Williman, who previously ran 10km daily for 145 days, hopes his unique effort will spark conversations about grief and encourage families to seek support. He emphasizes that the heavy cricket bat adds difficulty, but his focus is on raising awareness rather than finishing quickly. Williman draws inspiration from his wife's positive attitude during her illness and their shared participation in a virtual London Marathon during her treatment. He believes that if his efforts help even one family access the foundation's support, the challenge will be worthwhile.