Young Ollie Thomas is getting ready to lace up his running shoes again.

The 10-year-old from Cheltenham is preparing to run a mile for charity as part of the town’s popular Run Cheltenham event next month.

It takes place on Saturday 1^st September and Ollie, who will be running with his dad Sam, has certainly become a bit of a seasoned runner over the past couple of years or so.

And he’s been doing it for a very good cause, too, because over the past two years he’s raised more than £2,500 for charity.

To date, Ollie’s fundraising efforts have included three charity football matches, two plant sales using seeds from his nana’s garden – the most recent raising an impressive £195 – and twice taking part in Race for Life.

Ollie enjoys his running and he will be all set to go at 9:15am from Cheltenham Racecourse to run the MOKI Community Mile. This is just one element of Run Cheltenham, where participants from across the county take to the streets to run 10k or a half marathon.

And Ollie can’t wait to get under starter’s orders, saying: “I’m really looking forward to taking part in the Community Mile and seeing if I can beat my dad!”

Ollie will be running to raise money for the event’s official charity partner, Sue Ryder, which runs Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice in Cheltenham.

His fund-raising efforts include  a £910 donation for Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice and he added: “I really like helping people, it makes me feel happy.

“Although football’s my favourite sport, I also like running, and know how important it is to keep healthy and active.”

So how did Ollie’s remarkable fundraising begin?

“It all started in 2021 when Ollie watched Children in Need,” said his dad. “It really inspired him and he decided to embark on a series of fundraising challenges to make sure no child would go without a Christmas present.

“We’re incredibly proud of him – he’s just got amazing drive and determination. I can’t wait to see what he decides to do next!”

Alysia Cameron-Price, community fundraising manager at Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice, said: “Ollie’s dedication to fundraising is truly remarkable.

“We’re so grateful for everything he does to support the hospice, so we can continue to provide expert and compassionate care to families in Gloucestershire going through their hardest times.

“We’d like to say a huge thank you to Ollie. He’s an absolute superstar!”

If you’d like to join Ollie and take part in Run Cheltenham, you can still sign up for a Sue Ryder place, by visiting www.sueryder.org/support-us/fundraise/events/run-cheltenham-2024