Key Points
- The Endurance Challenge: Seb Bennison, 34, and Ryan Connell, 35, successfully completed a gruelling 24-hour endurance run on 27 June, completing a lap of Entwistle Reservoir every single hour.
- Distance Covered: The physical feat saw the duo cover a total distance of approximately 96 kilometres (nearly 60 miles) over the 24-hour window.
- The Inspiration: The endurance event was held in memory of Seb Bennison’s late mother, Lesley Bennison, a former Royal Bolton Hospital physiotherapist who passed away from cancer in 2013 at the age of 52.
- Fundraising Milestone: The pair have successfully raised £5,604 for The Christie Hospital in Manchester, where Lesley received specialist treatment, with the final total expected to climb higher.
- Community Alignment: Out of 24 distinct hourly laps, the runners were left completely on their own for just two laps, with local residents, families, and cancer patients accompanying them for the remaining 22 laps.
- A Legacy of Care: Lesley Bennison was famously known for co-founding the Bolton-based charity Chemo Mums, an organisation set up to support women undergoing chemotherapy with practical daily tasks.
- Next Endurance Goal: Following the completion of the reservoir challenge, Seb Bennison has announced plans to undertake a five-day cycle from Land’s End to John O'Groats starting on 8 October to continue fundraising efforts for The Christie.
Bolton (Bolton Today) July 2, 2026 — Two determined Bolton men have successfully completed a gruelling 24-hour physical endurance challenge around Entwistle Reservoir, raising thousands of pounds for The Christie Hospital in memory of a deeply missed local mother. Seb Bennison, 34, and his close friend Ryan Connell, 35, took on the continuous day-and-night running trial on 27 June, conquering a cumulative distance of approximately 96 kilometres by running a full lap of the reservoir every hour on the hour. The emotional and physical feat was specifically dedicated to the memory of Seb’s mother, Lesley Bennison, a well-known local physiotherapist and charity founder who passed away from cancer in 2013 at the age of 52.
As reported by journalist Isobel Forbes of The Bolton News, the event garnered immense grassroots support from the local community, which directly transformed what was expected to be a lonely endurance test into a massive communal gathering. The runners have so far generated £5,604 in direct donations for the specialist Manchester cancer centre, a figure that is projected to grow as corporate sponsorships and final pledges from friends, family, and workplace colleagues continue to be tallied.
The background of the event is deeply rooted in the life and community legacy of Lesley Bennison, who spent much of her childhood and adult life walking around the very banks of the Entwistle Reservoir where her ashes were eventually laid to rest. Having spent years working on the frontlines of local healthcare at the Royal Bolton Hospital, Lesley became a highly respected and well-known figure for her tireless advocacy on behalf of families navigating the emotional and practical difficulties of cancer diagnoses. Her battle with the disease began in 2004 when she was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer, which she successfully fought into remission before later learning that the illness had metastasized to her liver and spine.
What Motivated The 24-Hour Entwistle Reservoir Charity Run?
The emotional catalyst driving the entire 24-hour operational layout was the enduring memory of Lesley Bennison. Her family wanted a physical challenge that reflected the scale of her own long and courageous battle with terminal cancer. Choosing Entwistle Reservoir as the designated venue was highly intentional, given her deep lifelong connection to the location.
As reported by Isobel Forbes of The Bolton News, Lesley grew up around the local landmark and spent decades walking its pathways during her adult years. Following her passing at the specialist care facility at The Christie Hospital in Manchester in 2013, her family chose the reservoir as the final resting place where her ashes were scattered.
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How Did The Local Community Respond To The Fundraising Challenge?
According to the comprehensive on-the-scene reporting by Isobel Forbes of The Bolton News, the public turnout exceeded all initial administrative expectations, transforming the gruelling schedule into a shared public event. The visual presence of local supporters through the midnight hours and early morning shifts provided critical psychological fuel for the two runners as fatigue began to set in.
Reflecting directly on the community presence, Seb Bennison stated to The Bolton News:
“The day was lovely, loads and loads of people turned up. We only ran two laps on our own, so the whole community came together to support us. It was amazing.”
The open-ended format of the running route allowed casual walkers, local athletes, and families to join the duo for individual laps, meaning Bennison and Connell had physical running partners for 22 out of the 24 hours. This constant rotation of supporters created an environment where deeply personal stories were shared on the trail.
Seb Bennison further detailed these interactions to reporter Isobel Forbes, stating:
“We spoke to people who had family members treated at The Christie, people who had their own memories there, and even people currently living with cancer who came along to donate and share their stories.”
What Impact Did The Physical Toll Have On The Runners?
Covering a distance of 96 kilometres without structured, long-term sleep intervals presents substantial physiological challenges, particularly regarding lactic acid buildup and joint inflammation. The structure of running one lap per hour meant that any time left over after completing a lap was spent resting, hydrating, and stretching before the next hourly whistle blew.
Despite the obvious physical demands of remaining active for an entire day and night, Bennison expressed a sense of relief regarding how his body responded to the continuous loops. As reported by Isobel Forbes of The Bolton News, Seb Bennison stated:
“I was struggling to walk afterwards, but considering the lack of training I'd done, I surprised myself with how well my body handled it.”
How Much Money Was Raised For The Christie Hospital?
The primary financial metric of the event was to secure substantial funding for The Christie Hospital, an internationally recognised center for cancer care and clinical research in Manchester. At the time of compilation, the verified fundraising total reached £5,604, with additional donations still transitioning through digital donation platforms.
The widespread gratitude from the Bennison family regarding the financial and logistical contributions was echoed by extended family members who helped manage the base camp during the 24-hour period. As reported by journalist Isobel Forbes of The Bolton News, Seb’s auntie, Tracey McQuaid, stated:
“We would like to say a huge thank you to all your readers who supported us. From donors who had family treated by Christie's and a very special thank you to a very generous donor who sadly lost his wife to cancer this year.”
McQuaid also highlighted the extraordinary lengths to which individual members of the public went to ensure the safety and comfort of the participants. In a direct statement published by The Bolton News, Tracey McQuaid noted:
“To the reader who travelled from Westhoughton to the event to bring the lads energy drinks, we have been incredibly moved by the support.”
Who Was Lesley Bennison And What Was Her Charitable Legacy?
Beyond her professional duties as a dedicated physiotherapist at the Royal Bolton Hospital, Lesley Bennison left a structural legacy within the borough through the creation of specialized community support systems designed to alleviate the peripheral pressures of cancer treatment.
Following her initial aggressive breast cancer diagnosis in 2004, she recognized that the secondary effects of chemotherapy often left mothers unable to manage essential daily household and parental responsibilities. To address this clear gap in social care, she collaborated with her professional colleagues Jan Haworth and Joyce Sullivan to officially found the Bolton-based charity Chemo Mums.
The operational mandate of Chemo Mums was built around mobilizing a network of verified volunteers to assist women actively undergoing chemotherapy. The charity focused heavily on practical, everyday tasks that kept families stable during medical crises, including organizing daily school runs, providing temporary childcare, and offering safe, reliable transport to and from complex hospital appointments. This grassroots initiative significantly reduced the domestic anxieties felt by local mothers undergoing intensive oncological care across the region.
What Are The Future Fundraising Plans For The Christie?
The completion of the 24-hour reservoir run does not mark the conclusion of the fundraising campaign in memory of Lesley Bennison. The physical momentum generated by the 96-kilometre run is being directly channeled into an even larger domestic endurance project scheduled for the autumn.
As reported by Isobel Forbes of The Bolton News, Seb Bennison is already actively preparing for his next major fundraising endeavor: an intense, high-speed cycling expedition spanning the entire length of the UK mainland from Land’s End to John O'Groats. The cross-country cycle is scheduled to take place over a tight five-day window starting on 8 October, requiring immense cardiovascular output and substantial daily mileage.
Looking forward to the immense logistical and physical preparation required for the multi-day ride across England and Scotland, Seb Bennison candidly told The Bolton News that he needs to start training immediately, but added that he "can't wait for the challenge" to begin. All subsequent funds raised from the cross-country cycle will likewise be directed straight to The Christie Hospital to support ongoing patient care and cancer research initiatives.