The Mayor of Malton is taking on ultra distance race this weekend to raise funds for a Ryedale charity.

Ian Conlan is competing in the ‘Steel City 60’, a 60 mile ultra distance trail race round the city of Sheffield for Ryedale Special Families' (RSF) plan for a new home.

The race circumnavigates Sheffield mainly using the Sheffield Country Walk and has a 20 hour time limit. Starting at 6am it has feed stations every 10 miles, and a cut-off time of 2am the following morning.

Ian said: “I initially trained for a 24 mile running event in 2020 which was cancelled, and I wanted to get back into long distance running to unwind and lose weight after the stresses of the last three years.

"Running to raise funds for Ryedale Special Families' new building is an added motivation, as I used to do music therapy sessions there over 20 years ago in their current premises, so I am both indebted to them and appreciate the limitations of their current building."

RSF currently owns a piece of land in Pickering, and is now raising funds for a new building to replace it's current home in Old Malton.

"The new building will run a wide variety of activities including group sessions and individual support – as well as activities for disabled young adults in the charity's Ryedale Supported Futures programme. 

Featuring sensory spaces and welcoming areas for parents and carers to meet, the new building will be fully accessible with ample car parking space and will include an outdoor area to socialise in. 

Ian added:"It makes so much more sense to have purpose-built premises which are large enough and also fully accessible, in order to meet the needs of the children and their families that rely on RSF.

"As a Malton Town Councillor and current Mayor I wanted to support a local charity that meets such an important need in our community as well as seeks to cater for whole families, including siblings."

Rob Davies, Funding Coordinator for Ryedale Special Families said: “We’d like to say a huge thank you to Ian and wish him well on his challenge. We’re indebted to the many people like Ian who take on a challenge and help to raise funds towards our new building in Pickering.”

The race takes place on Saturday, April 22.

Anyone wishing to sponsor Ian can do so by visiting his Just Giving page at https://www.justgiving.com/page/ian-conlan-1680888782485