Mellis man runs 83 miles in 24 hours in tribute to Callum Doe

The 44-year-old who pledged to run half-way across Norfolk in memory of Callum Doe has fulfilled his promise, completing his 83 mile journey in just under 24 hours.

Father-of-one Alan Carter ran from Great Yarmouth to Thetford – a route known as Angles Way – in tribute to Callum Doe, the 14-year-old boy from Diss who died from a brain tumour in August.

Setting off at 5am on Saturday, Mr Carter stopped off at Normans Fish and Chips in London Road, Harleston, for a brief break before reaching the finish line in Knettishall almost exactly 24 hours later, and raising more than £2,500 for charity in the process.

“It went really well, and a lot better than I was expecting,” said said Mr Carter, who works as a carpenter and joiner.

“It wasn’t easy, and got harder and harder as we went along, but that’s to be expected.

“As for the recovery, I didn’t walk the following day, and it was probably three or four days before my legs felt back to normal.”

Mr Carter was accompanied by Callum’s father, 50-year-old Ian Doe, who rode alongside him on a bicycle for the entire journey – however Mr Doe’s journey was far from an easy ride.

“Ian snapped a chain on his bike during the run, so we stopped and I had to push a few cogs out and shorten his bike chain, so he did the last 65 miles or so with only two gears,” added Mr Carter, of Earlsford Road, Mellis.

Diss High School student Callum died on August 20 from an extremely aggressive brain tumour.

After falling ill on Christmas Eve in 2018, Callum spent the final 18 months of his life between his home in Willbye Avenue, where he lived with his parents and his 18-year-old sister, Abi, and at The Nook – part of East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices – in Framlingham Earl.

The money raised by Mr Carter’s expedition will go towards East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices.

To donate Mr Carter's fundraising page, click here .