Fund-raiser running up 46 storeys of Manchester skyscraper Beetham Tower for cancer hospital The Christie

A fund-raiser will get his running shoes on for a gruelling event involved getting up the 46 storeys of a Manchester skyscraper as fast as he can for cancer hospital The Christie.

Rich Flukes is taking on the challenge of the staircases inside Beetham Tower.

He will do battle with the staircases to help the well-known Manchester hospital as his husband is currently undergoing treatment for an incurable blood cancer.

It is not the first time he has taken on the tower run, and hopes for a personal best time.

What is the Beetham Tower run Rich Flukes is doing and why is he running it?

The Christie organises the run up the 798 stairs inside the 46-floor Beetham Tower on Deansgate in Manchester every year.

Runners make their way up the staircases ascending 171 metres in the thigh-burning challenge, which this year takes place on 10 April.

Rich, 50, is taking it on for the third time and hopes to beat his personal best of seven and a half minutes.

Rich, a sales director, is getting his trainers on once more because his husband Matt, 47, was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2017 and treated at The Christie.

Rich, who lives with Matt and their two children in Timperley, said: “This will be the third time I’ve done the tower run and I’ve been training hard to try and beat my best time. It is way tougher than you’d expect but it is a great event and I’m proud to support the charity for Matt.

“Four years ago, The Christie became a big part of our family’s life when Matt received a stem cell transplant, meaning we spent many weeks there.

“The impact the Christie has had on me has been profound, the work they do, day in day out, is outstanding. Both in research into eradicating cancer and the care the staff give to patients and their families.

“The Christie charity supports both these vital areas and I’ve seen first-hand how that money goes towards helping patients in all kinds of ways.”

Rich has a JustGiving page for his tower challenge for people to donate.

What has the hospital said?

Josh Hughff, sporting events officer at The Christie charity, said: “We’re thrilled Rich is once again taking part in the tower run for Matt. Rich is a seasoned professional these days but I’m sure he will agree it never gets any easier.

“We’re looking forward to cheering Rich on as he looks to scale the heights with all the other people who are taking part and it is certain to be a great day at one of Manchester’s most iconic landmarks.

“The tower run is a really great event and is much more challenging than people imagine. However, the view at the top is well worth the effort and it is a great atmosphere on the day.”