Orran’s Running for Cruse

Ultra competitor Orran Smith has signed up to run 205 miles in Italy to raise funds for local bereavement charity, Cruse Bereavement Support Isle of Man.

Almost certainly the island’s fittest and grittiest athlete, Orran has previously completed the 268 mile The Spine challenge for an MS charity.

September will see him tackle the Tour des Geants race which involves running the distance, equivalent to over 200 miles in the mountainous areas of Donnas in northern Italy near the French and Swiss borders.

There are no compulsory stages with the winner achieving the fastest race in the shortest time. Orran will decide how long to rest for and when to take on board water and food. There is no actual support cars or people but food and ‘life’ stations along the route where the runners can rest or eat/drink.

Cruse CEO, Mary Doyle said: ‘As a charity we are grateful to anyone that supports our charity. This is a gritty, tough event and we would like to thank Orran for all his endeavours for us. I have chatted with Orran and am very touched by his empathy to be a difference to our small community. With his previous challenge he raised £11,000 for the MS Society – it would be terrific if this amount was raised for our charity.

‘The biggest issue with this event will be heat exhaustion so we wish him luck with this amazing challenge and look forward to hearing all about it when he has completed it in September, 2023.’

Orran added: ‘I like a challenge, and this will certainly be one but raising funds for a local charity, such as Cruse Bereavement Support, will help me plough on through an arduous, tough course. I am much more compassionate and have changed my perspective over the last few years so to use my running to help raise funds for a very worthwhile cause means a lot to me.’

To donate to Cruse please visit Orran’s fundraising page Orran Smith is fundraising for Cruse Bereavement Care Isle of Man (justgiving.com)