Ben Stokes to run half marathon to raise funds for health workers

England's World Cup-winning all-rounder Ben Stokes will run his maiden half marathon on Tuesday to raise funds for a charity and hospitals battling the COVID-19 pandemic. In a video message posted on Instagram, Stokes said he was inspired by three men calling themselves the 'Cricket Garden Marathon Team', who ran full marathons in their own backyards, to run and raise funds for Britain's National Health Services (NHS) and the Chance to Shine foundation.

Ben Stokes to run half marathon

"(A half marathon) is always been something that I've thought about doing a but never really got around to ever doing it," Stokes said.

"Obviously we've been in lockdown so I thought what a great opportunity to go out and if I'm going to do it I might as well try and raise some funds," he added.

Admitting that the furthest he has ever run is 8km, the 28-year-old hopes his effort will encourage people to donate to the page set up by the Cricket Garden Marathon team.  "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. Stokes added that the Chance to Shine foundation is very close to his heart as it works to provide all children the opportunity to play, learn and develop through cricket.

"They are supporting NHS and are also supporting Chance to Shine which is obviously got a very close attachment to cricket, which is what I am."

Cricketers have been doing their bit to help the needy in the ongoing crisis. India skipper Virat Kohli and former South African batsman AB De Villiers put their kits from the 2016 Indian Premier League (IPL) match against Gujarat Lions on auction to aid the battle against coronavirus. England-wicketkeeper Jos Buttler raised 65,000 pounds by auctioning his World Cup final shirt. 

Image credits: AP