Young Wigan sportsman doing half marathon for cancer charity

Rob Cowley, from Orrell, will swap his tennis racket for trainers on Sunday to run 13.1 miles for Sarcoma UK.
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The 18-year-old, who is a top-ranked tennis player in Lancashire in his age group and travels to competitions up and down the country, is raising money for the rare bone cancer charity as his uncle Chris Cowley died of the disease in 2017, aged just 35.

Rob will be joined along his route from the DW Stadium to Orrell by young racket-wielders from the same Robin Park Tennis Centre junior pathway he came through.

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The fund-raiser will culminate with several laps of the DW Stadium.

Rob CowleyRob Cowley
Rob Cowley

Rob started running to keep fit after his time on court was curtailed by Covid-19.

And having done a bike ride from Wigan to Blackpool Tower for Sarcoma UK a few years ago he quickly decided to set himself another physical fund-raising challenge.

Rob said: “We obviously can’t play tennis at the moment so I started running just to keep myself busy and fit.

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“I then decided it was a way I could do another charity challenge.

Chris Cowley, who died of sarcoma in 2017 aged 35, with his wife and childrenChris Cowley, who died of sarcoma in 2017 aged 35, with his wife and children
Chris Cowley, who died of sarcoma in 2017 aged 35, with his wife and children

“It’s a 13-mile route starting in Orrell and finishing at the DW Stadium. I will have about 20 kids involved and three parents running with me, all doing different distances.”

Rob is hoping to raise around £2,000 for Sarcoma UK, which supports cancer researchers, providing a helpline for families affected and raises awareness of the rare disease.

The challenge is particularly apt as Chris ran a number of half marathons himself during his life.

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Rob combines his tennis with full-time study at St John Rigby College at Gathurst.

Find out more or donate at www.justgiving.com/fundraising/rob-cowley25

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