550 miles from Wigan, but still close to home: how a run to Paris is helping Wigan’s Little Heroes
This is bound to make you grin: only in Wigan could a morning scroll through Facebook turn into a 550‑mile run to Paris.
That’s exactly what happened to Lee Hogg, managing director of Voca Fire Protection Group, when an old family photo of his uncle and his uncle’s dad popped up on his feed.
They completed a charity run from John O’Groats to Land’s End, and another 700‑mile run just two years later from Angers, France (Wigan’s twin town), back to Wigan.
“It just got my mind ticking. I’d love to do something like that,” he reminisced. “Seeing what my family achieved 20 to 25 years ago lit a fire in my belly,”
“I still remember standing at Haigh Hall waiting for them to come back from France… it was just a proud moment.”
Then he remembered that Wigan Warriors were set to play Catalans Dragons in Paris this coming June 6.
“I wonder if we could run to Paris?”
Within minutes, the work he’d planned for that Saturday morning was soon forgotten.
“I stopped doing work and started planning the route instead. That was it. I was off.”
What began as a bit of nostalgia has now grown into The Long Run for Little Heroes - a four‑day, 550‑mile endurance challenge taking place at the beginning of June, starting at The Brick Community Stadium and finishing at the Stade Jean Bouin in Paris.
Lee quickly assembled a team of 10 runners, a mix of family members, colleagues, gym friends, including his uncle Colin Greenhalgh.
Lee said: “We put a team of 10 runners together and two minibus drivers – family, friends, people from work.”
“My uncle’s even started running again because he said he’d feel like he was missing out if he didn’t do this.”
The group will complete the distance relay‑style: two people out at a time, one running and one cycling with the sat‑nav, swapping every four hours.
“My uncle had to do it with A-Z maps,” Lee laughed. “It’s much easier these days.
“The hardest part will be the lack of sleep because every four hours you’re out of the van doing another eight miles,” he added.
“Running through France will be tough. Single‑lane roads, farmers’ fields, no lighting – just head torches and keeping on going until we see daylight.”
The challenge will raise money for Wigan Youth Zone (WYZ) and Alder Hey Children’s Charity, two organisations that are close to home for the runners.
“We’re patrons of Wigan Youth Zone. We’ve seen first‑hand the difference it makes to young people,” Lee said.
Recently the runners and the team, including head of social media Alex McMillan, visited WYZ, where the youngsters took part in activities and even interviewed the runners themselves.
“It was brilliant, the kids got involved in everything!” he said. “It’s nice to see a charity where you can directly see the impact.”
Lee praised the WYZ for its support, saying the organisation is right behind the team and their fund-raising goals.
The second charity, Alder Hey, is particularly close to the heart of team member Jess Pennington, whose five-year-old son Dylan underwent heart surgery there.
“Supporting them just felt right. It’s close to home,” Lee said.
When the miles start to bite, and blisters begin to burn, the team will remind themselves exactly why they are doing it.
“When our legs hurt or we’re exhausted, we keep going, because some children don’t get to choose their fight.”
The runners are currently training together through a shared Strava group, monthly group runs around Wigan, and guidance from teammate Alex Holding, who’s a qualified nutritionist and personal trainer.
And for Lee, there is one extra push that gets him through the toughest stretches: Coldplay’s A Sky Full of Stars. “I always plant that tune in the last 10 minutes of my runs – it keeps me going.”
As soon as word got out, local businesses began offering what they could, be it transport, kit, design work, social media support, or even covering the cost of the ferry.
A 17‑seater minibus has been donated by Westwood Motors, and has been fully wrapped by ENV Graphics. Several local firms (including Express Electrical, The Fire Suppression Company, Drainforce, Faze Electrical, NW Fire and Security and Ram Films) have also stepped in as sponsors to help with fuel, nutrition and the long hours on the road.
Voca Fire Protection is covering costs like fuel, food and ferry travel, while Zaffel is supporting the team’s social media, and Arc Endurance is guiding their training and nutrition. “Local businesses have been brilliant. Everyone wants to help out,” Lee said.
And it speaks for itself: the run seems to be quietly snowballing into a community project.
“I feel like what’s pushed it for me is just having that passion throughout the local community with me. It’s still early days, but we’re picking up momentum.”
“Pulling everyone together is what makes something like this possible.”
Despite the team having only promoted the run two weeks ago, they have already collectively raised nearly £1,000 towards their £10,000 target. Additional support from Wigan Warriors is expected to boost exposure even further in the coming weeks.
“It all started with a picture."
Further information
Those wishing to support can follow the team’s journey on social media and donate via their fundraising page using the links below.
Follow their journey:
Instagram: @wigantoparis