Runner gears up for 48-hour Guinness World Record attempt

Keen runner Michelle White is in training for a gruelling 48-hour challenge to run more than 251 miles on a treadmill and raise £4,800 for charity. 

The 48-year-old, known as Chelle, lives with her family in North Swindon. She set herself the challenge after getting the running bug just over five years ago. 

She started running after losing her mum Linda to lung cancer and wanting to do something in her memory. 

Chelle said: “I did Race For Life after mum passed away and that was it. Since then I’ve run thousands of miles, from 10k runs to half marathons to marathons. 

"I did the London Marathon last year in 3 hours 43 minutes and I still am classed in the top five per cent of runners for my age group. 

"I also did this year’s virtual London Marathon, running to Bromley and back, and I completed it in 3 hours and 24 minutes.”

On Friday, 20 November, she will start running on a treadmill at the premises of Any Time Fitness in Old Town, one of her sponsors.

She will attempt to win a Guinness World Record for miles run on a treadmill in 48 hours. This currently stands at 200 miles for women and 251 for men. Chelle wants to beat both records. 

 She said: “I believe I can do this – even taking necessary comfort breaks. This is my next personal goal and I wanted to do it for a cause I believe in."

 Doing It For Dan is a charity created in memory of Daniel Climance who passed away aged 11 after being involved in a road traffic collision in Purton while cycling. 

His parents set up the charity which provides grants to individuals, teams and organisations around Swindon and Wiltshire to give young people the opportunity to participate in sport. 

Dan was sports-mad himself, particularly when it came to football and martial arts. 

Chelle said: "Doing It For Dan is all about sport and remembering Dan who passed away five years ago. My children went to the same school as Dan’s brother and his death shocked us all. 

"I want to dedicate this run to him and his family who have taken such a tragedy and turned it into something so positive.” 

Dan's mum, Helen, said: “We are thrilled Chelle has offered to do this and support Doing It For Dan. Any money she raises will be used to support young people to participate in sporting activities, which was so important to my son and also to his wellbeing. 

"To be able to help others engage in sporting activities is wonderful.” 

Chelle’s dedication to running comes in spite of her suffering from an incurable autoimmune condition, rheumatoid arthritis, which causes joints to swell, become extremely painful and, in some cases, permanently distorted. 

After her diagnosis, Chelle was originally put on strong drugs, yet found her quality of life was poor, with constant sickness and exhaustion.

She said: “I have RA, it doesn’t define me. I decided I don’t want to take drugs which make me feel terrible, I want to live my best life. 

"Now I take painkillers only when necessary, I exercise and I have recently adopted a vegan diet, which has not been easy but has made a world of difference.

"Since training for the event I have lost two stones, when I did not have two stones to lose and this shows the real toil of training. I’m taking this very seriously.” 

Anybody wishing support Chelle’s efforts should visit https://doingitfordan.enthuse.com/pf/michelle-white