Teen's 5k-a-day challenge for sick friend

Ruben Martin (right) is raising money for Joe Grindle (left), who was born with a heart defect

A teenager from Sheffield is running five km (three miles) every day for a month raising money for charity in support of a friend who has a heart condition.

Ruben Martin, 16, started the challenge raising money for the British Heart Foundation after Joe Grindle, 17, was admitted to hospital.

Joe, who has congenital heart disease, is currently recovering after being treated for an infection following open heart surgery.

Ruben, who has already beaten his initial target of £104 and hopes to hit £5,000 by the end of November, said: "My legs are quite sore, my calves are taking a bit of a hit at the minute, but it's going all right."

He said he had been inspired by Sheffield Wednesday defender Liam Palmer, who ran 10k (six miles) a day in memory of Jude Mellon-Jameson, son of goalkeeper Arron Mellon-Jameson, who died of cancer aged five.

"I thought I could do something like that - but not 10k a day. I can't run 10k a day for a month," said Ruben.

He said the challenge had seen him running to visit Joe at the Northern General Hospital in Sheffield and even continuing to run while on holiday in Lanzarote.

Joe, who was born with a heart defect which affects the way it functions, said his friend's charity efforts were "lovely".

"It's nice to know you've got people supporting you. It's quite a lonely time being in hospital," he said.

Joe, who had to stay in hospital for three weeks while recovering from the infection and is now being treated as an outpatient, said his illness had meant he was forced to take time off from football, which the teenagers played together.

"It's just stop and start all the time, I miss half the season," said Joe.

"It's a bit frustrating, having to sit on the sidelines and watch everyone else play."

Joe said he hoped to return to the pitch soon as his condition improved.

Joe says Ruben's support has helped him through his time in hospital

Ruben said he picked his initial target of £104 as a cheeky jab at Sheffield United, the team Joe supported.

"United weren't very good last season, they let in 104 goals," he explained.

"That's all I wanted originally, but it's gone above that, which has been great."

He also completed one of his 5k runs by completing 15 laps of Bramall Lane, Sheffield United's stadium, on the same day as the Steel City Derby earlier in November.

However, he added that he did not wear his Sheffield Wednesday shirt because he "fancied coming out alive".

Ruben's JustGiving page has currently received over £3,500 in donations, with the challenge due to end on 23 November.

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