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Running for a change

Running for a change

Rhys Blissett is prepared to run several marathons for a worthy cause.

The 17-year-old has a history of doing charity runs, and he’s decided to organise one of his own.

The Run for Change event, which begins on November 16, will see he and four other brave runners slog it out for 126 kilometres.

And it’s all with the aim of raising awareness and offering support for women and child victims of domestic violence.

"It’s starting in Rolleston, and then we run to Ashburton, and back again over two days.”

Marathons are about 42 kilometres, so the team will be running just shy of three marathons over the two days.

Ashburton’s Regency Motel is stepping up, providing the five runners free accommodation when they hit town.

Blissett’s grateful for the support and said another 10 participants would run shorter stints.

He said the idea came through volunteer work and charity runs he’d done in the past.

"I’ve dealt with Women’s Refuge a lot,’’ he said.

"The whole course of my life has been around the organisation.

"I thought it’d be cool to make a change, hopefully raise some money for them.”

And Blissett’s been putting in the practice hours in the leadup to the event.

"People who travel from Ashburton to Christchurch might have seen me do 68 kilometres about three weeks back.

"I started at 8am and finished at 6.30pm. I had a few people honk as I was running.

And you can honk some more come November 16 and donate on the Givealittle page by searching 126.6km

By Anisha Satya