'I've done
absolutely no training, the longest distance that I've ever run is 8
kilometres. So, I don't even know I'm going to be able to complete it but
hopefully, I can'
IMAGE: Ben Stokes got inspired by the efforts of
three men who ran full marathons in their back gardens over the weekend. Photograph:
Gareth Copley/Getty Images
England all-rounder Ben
Stokes will run his first ever half marathon on Tuesday to raise funds for the
National Health Services (NHS) Charities Together and national children's
cricket charity Chance to Shine.
The 28-year-old all-rounder
who admitted that the longest he had ever run was 8 km, will be running a half
marathon near his home.
"A half marathon is
always been something that I've thought about doing a but never really got
around to ever doing it. Obviously, we have been in lockdown so I thought what
a great option to go out and if I'm going to do it, I might as well try and
raise some funds for a good cause," Stokes said in an Instagram video.
Stokes got inspired by the
efforts of three men who ran full marathons in their back gardens over the
weekend.
"I will be hopefully
inspiring people to make some donations towards the Cricket Garden Marathon,
I'm just trying to add some more funds to what they've managed to do for the
great cause," said Stokes.
"I've done absolutely
no training, the longest distance that I've ever run is 8 kilometres. So, I
don't even know I'm going to be able to complete it but hopefully, I can,"
he added.
The left-handed Stokes on
April 8 became the first English cricketer since 2005 to be named as Wisden's
Leading Cricketer in the World. In 2005, Andrew Flintoff was named as Wisden's
Leading Cricketer of the Year.
The year 2019 proved as an
instrumental year for Stokes as he played a key role in England's first 50-over
World Cup win and then he went on to play a memorable innings against Australia
during the third Ashes Test at Headingley.
Also, the English all-rounder
was named as ICC's cricketer of the year in January 2020.