Kidderminster postman to tackle 12-hour Sion Hill run

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A DARING Kidderminster postman is swapping the breathtaking views from Mount Snowdon for more familiar surroundings in his hometown as he attempts a gruelling uphill run for charity.

Shaun Marshall was set to take on the Snowdon 24 race, attempting to run up and down the iconic mountain as many times as possible for 24 hours in aid of KEMP Hospice, but the event had to be cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Undeterred, the former Royal Marine decided to hold his own mountain challenge closer to home - and where better than the hill he climbs regularly on his postal rounds?


Shaun, 46, said: "My race up Snowdon had to be cancelled, but KEMP still needs funds like most charities to keep going.

"I couldn’t do Snowdon so I thought what else is steep and horrible to climb?

"I’m a postman now so I go up Sion Hill quite a bit - it's not a nice hill. I decided I'll use that instead and run up and down it for 12 hours and raise some money."

The father-of-two is no stranger to exhausting challenges, having previously completed four Iron Man triathlons and a 100-mile race for charity.

Most recently, he ran for 24 hours while dressed as Santa to raise money for KEMP.

Shaun said: "I do quite a bit of fundraising for KEMP Hospice. I live round the corner so I used to walk past every day.

"We have used the hospice as a family, but I support KEMP because it’s our charity in Kidderminster, it’s Wyre Forest's charity. Everyone here has been touched by KEMP in some way."

Shaun will attempt to run the 840-metre route up and down Sion Hill as many times as he can in the time limit next month, in what he is calling the 'Hell on Sion Hill 12-hour Challenge'.

"I'm most nervous about coming down the hill," he said. "I use it as a training aid and it's quite horrible. It's a bit of a skill as you're using your other muscles.

"It’s going to take me out of the zone, I know it will - I just need to focus on being able to switch on for 12 hours straight."

Shaun is hoping to raise £1,800 in sponsors. Visit justgiving.com/fundraising/shaun-marshall14 to donate.