Matt Crocker and Aaron Insley, two LiveWest supported housing colleagues, crossed the finish line with Changkouth Kuek, a young resident who lives in a supported housing scheme in Cornwall.
Starting off a running club in summer to encourage more residents to try a new hobby, the three runners have now caught the ‘running bug’ and love for the atmosphere.
Matt Crocker, who was one of the pioneers for the running club, is thrilled with the response they’ve had from our Supported Housing team. The LiveWest Support Worker, said: “It was really rewarding and nice to see our team there to cheer us on.
“In the summertime, Aaron and I were coming up with ideas to keep the young residents busy and we did lots of football, running and other activities. We then soon began our running club.
“Aaron and I didn’t really do any running before or with young people so, we started with a mile and built it every week with our cleaner, Lorna, who is also into running.
“We had to put lots of our own time in to get fit for it whereas Changkouth was already extremely fit. Changkouth absolutely smashed it meanwhile Aaron and I struggled to do a mile four months ago.
Proud of his and his team’s latest milestone, Matt is delighted that Changkouth has found a new love for competitive running and the joy it brings him.
He added: “Changkouth is the next level really. He got into the men’s top 50, and he didn’t really train that much either.
“He’s been contacted by a running club now and they’ve asked for him to join and get running with some of their elite runners because they think he can do a half in around one hour, 20 minutes.
“I think he’s got a really good future in running.”
With off-road challenges, trails, a lot of hills and muddy ankles, Changkouth enjoyed his goal as he completed the marathon in one hour, 40 minutes with little training.
Taking on the new hobby alongside his busy gym training and football schedule, the 18-year-old is determined to improve his time for his next adventure, he said: “Matt and Aaron encouraged me to do it, and we smashed it.
“I’m happy that I was in the top 50, it’s good. Next time, I am hoping to be faster.
“I play football every Tuesday and Saturday so I love running. I think next time I want to do some more half marathons and work my way to a full one.
“It’s great to have Matt and Aaron’s support. They are good guys, and I enjoy being with them. They are nice people, and they support me in everything I’m doing. It’s good.”
Having moved into one of our supported housing schemes in Cornwall from Africa, Changkouth has been hard at work with his training and studies at college with ambitions to become a paramedic in the future.
We offer supported housing accommodation across the South West and provide lots of support for young residents like Changkouth.
Our supported housing service for young people and young parents offers emergency to long-stay accommodation, for 16 to 25-year-olds.
Aaron Insley, one of our Youth Development Workers, said: “It’s been a great physical journey and challenge for everyone, but the mental side has been a completely different beast.
“Matt and I knew that this was going to be a challenge, and we wanted to promote the foremost to our young people.
“Changkouth is a very confident young person, and it has been, and continues to be, a joy to see him apply our half marathon experience with other challenges in his life.”
The three are currently busy planning for their next run with more colleagues hoping to give a few races a try.
As well as young people and parents, we provide services for older residents, people with learning disabilities, families, and services provided by other organisations.
We have recently launched our Let’s Talk Supported Housing Campaign to help raise the profile of supported housing and the support it offers.