Chapel-en-le-Frith dad runs 170 miles for Syrian refugees and High Peak Food Bank
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Charles Lawley, 32, took on the challenge in recognition of the dangerous trek undertaken by thousands of Syrians escaping civil war in the troubled middle eastern country.
Many families who attempt crossing the Anti-Lebanon Mountains during the 170-mile walk between Aleppo, Syria, and Arsal, Lebanon, freeze to death.
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Hide AdFather-of-two Charles is head of public relations for Manchester-based charity Syria Relief and a co-founder of the town’s COVID-19 Mutual Aid Group.


He has launched a crowdfunding campaign to support struggling Syrian refugees - however half of all donations will go to High Peak Foodbank to help families closer to home struggling since the pandemic began.
Charles told how he had only been running for three weeks before starting the arduous feat.
He stumbled upon the idea while gazing out of his window while in quarantine following his last trip to Lebanon during the pandemic.
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The 32-year-old said: “I had to quarantine from my wife and kids in the bedroom - luckily we’ve got an en-suite - and all I had to look at was the view out the window.
“And I just thought ‘I’ll have a proper run when I can go out again’ and then I thought I might as well get something out of it other than exercise.
“We’ve been supporting High Peak Food Bank a lot during lockdown - I’m passionate about Syria but didn’t want to forget there’s people here we need to help too.”
Before lockdown began Charles would visit Syria and Lebanon once a month - supporting the charity’s schools and hospitals.
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Hide AdDuring one trip he met a woman who undertook the perilous walk with her children in December and survived.
Charles, who admits he is ‘not a natural runner’, started on September 24 and will finish on November 1 - averaging just under 5 miles a day.
At the time of writing Charles had raised nearly £750 in six days. He added: “I’m pretty happy with that - people have been really generous.”
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