Martlesham: Ultra-marathon man Chris Johnson runs all day and night for charity

Chris Johnson ran 100 miles around Martlesham Heath for Cystic Fibrsosis

The super-fit fundraiser deserves to put his feet up, after running all day and night round a Suffolk neighbourhood for charity.

Mr Johnson, who turns 29 today, can count himself among a select number of runners to have completed a 100-mile ultramarathon. And he did it all in the space of 26 hours – not counting a snooze stop along the way.

The breathtaking challenge, dubbed ‘Chris’ 100-mile Martlesham madness’, was devised to raise money for the Cystic Fibrosis (CF) Trust.

Mr Johnson has a close friend, Andrew Wilesmith, whose sister, Jess, suffers from the life-shortening disease, which effects the vital organs and for which there is presently no cure.

Before his run of 48 laps round Eagle Way, during which he stopped only for food breaks and a few hours of sleep at his parents’ house, he said: “This is for an extremely important charity, that has personally affected some friends of mine.”

Despite living with the illness, 16-year-old Jess achieved all A* and As in her GCSEs this summer, has captained Suffolk in basketball and was a keen gymnast before having to give both up.

She is now a basketball official, refereeing for Leiston Lynx in the Suffolk Senior League.

As part of dealing with CF, she takes medication, needs physiotherapy for her lungs and needs a nebuliser for her breathing twice a day.

Mr Wilesmith said: “She has demonstrated how, through the continuing research undertaken by the CF Trust and the resources at the fantastic units at Ipswich, and now Addenbrooke’s Hospital, she can lead a more normal life than children of her age even 15 years ago.

“Every little counts in trying to find a cure, and importantly improve the quality of life for sufferers of CF.”

You can still sponsor Mr Johnson at justgiving.com/ChrisJohnson100