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'Running Saint' heading to Liberty [South Wales Evening Post (Wales)](South Wales Evening Post (Wales) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) FORMER Southampton footballer Francis Benali is due to arrive in Ystradgynlais tomorrow as part of a mammoth charity run in aid of Cancer Research UK. On Saturday he will run from the Swansea Valley town to Swansea's Liberty Stadium, and then from there to Aberdare. Benali's Big Run, launched by the star's former teammate Alan Shearer on August 24, involves running nearly 1,000 miles to all 20 Premier League grounds over three weeks. The 45-year-old, who also played alongside the likes of Saints legend Matt Le Tissier during his 20-year career, will run between 40 and 50 miles a day. Benali's Big Run, sponsored by telecommunications company 4Com, will finish at St Mary's, home of the Saints, on Saturday September 13. Mr Benali said: "I've been training hard for this and building up to it over the last few months. I couldn't have got to the start without my entire back-up crew who have played a vital role in all the preparation. I've got to run nearly 1,000 miles in three weeks averaging more than 40 miles a day. I don't even have a rest day planned!" He added: "I'm running for an amazing charity. We have raised more than Pounds 30,000 already and I haven't started yet! I hope that when people see how hard this challenge is they'll support me." ?Donations can be made by texting BIGR55 Pounds 3 to 70070 or via Justgiving by visiting www.benalisbigrun.co.uk. (c) 2014 ProQuest Information and Learning Company; All Rights Reserved. |