Revving up for the triathlon
Tuesday 14th May 2019Fr Richard Howard from St Mary’s Church in Horwich will undertake a sponsored Olympic Distance Triathlon in Southport on 19 May. Father Richard will be swimming 1.5K, cycling 40K and running 10K to raise awareness and funds to ease the plight of struggling Christian communities in Egypt.
“Like many people I was appalled by the violent deaths of the twenty-one Coptic Egyptian Christians in 2015 at the hands of Islamic extremists”, said the athletic young priest. “I therefore wanted to support the charity, Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), because I had heard about the good work they do in such places.” ACN works through the Church in Egypt to support a variety of projects including the rebuilding and restoring of damaged or destroyed church buildings, the provision of education for seminarians and clergy, training for lay catechists and financial support for communities of religious sisters who support those most in need, including orphans, the sick and the elderly.
Father Richard has been in training for his triathlon since last October. He has always been an active sportsperson, but his new, stricter regime has resulted in a 5-6 kg weight loss and a considerably smaller waist size. His intensive programme has been overseen by his friend Lukas, a former professional triathlete who now trains others to compete. Most mornings he is in the gym by 6:30 and he fits in more training around his clerical duties each day. Father Richard does some training every day except Sunday which, perhaps not surprisingly, he sees as a day of rest.
All his hard work is already paying off. On 7 April, Father Richard completed the Greater Manchester Marathon in just three hours and 56 minutes, a time of which he is justifiably feeling proud!
You can sponsor Father Richard online (www.justgiving.com/fundraising/frrichardstriathlon) or by cheque or card through the NW Office of ACN UK (01524 388739; nw.office@acnuk.org).
Tagged | Around the Diocese
