The landlord of a Withington pub has ran the Manchester Marathon in support of a local charity, Mero\u2019s World, that campaigns to place lifesaving bleed safety cabinets on the streets of Manchester.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Paul Mitchell, who runs The Victoria pub on Wilmslow Road in Withington, was one of 28,000 runners on Sunday, 16 April.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Paul chose to run for Mero\u2019s World, a charity that was set up by Kelly Brown following the tragic loss of her son Rhamero \u201cMero\u201d West, who was killed in a stabbing in Trafford in September 2021. Kelly launched Mero\u2019s World in Rhamero\u2019s honour, to fund an install bleed kits across the city. The kits are housed in cabinets that can be accessed via a code obtained from 999 operators, and are used in events of catastrophic bleeding including knife wounds, car accidents and other incidents. The tools within can help make the difference that will keep a victim alive in time for paramedics to arrive.
\u201cKelly is an incredibly strong lady. We got to know her through a customer of ours who put us forward to have a bleed cabinet installed on the outside of the pub\u201d said Paul.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAfter hearing Kelly\u2019s story and the importance of these bleed cabinets we felt that as a pub we could raise money for more boxes to help keep the streets safer. This is important for generations to come, as sadly the use of cabinets is becoming more and more necessary\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Paul chose the Manchester Marathon for his fundraising. Every year, participants race 26.2 miles across the city, often in support of good causes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cManchester is an amazing city and is so friendly. It is both where we live and where Mero\u2019s World is based. It also meant my little boy, who is six, could come along and join in the fun too\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBefore running pubs I served in the British Army so running was quite easy for me. I first did the Manchester Marathon eight years ago – though I\u2019ve got older and drank a lot of Hyde\u2019s beer since then! I trained for three months, combining running and gym work at the local Withington Baths\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMarathon day itself was amazing. Everyone talks to each other as you wait to start. The support along the route is amazing, there’s people giving you sweets and high fives to keep you motivated and the final stretch to the finish line is incredible\u201d. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThere’s people of all ages both running and supporting. The support that you get from other runners though is nothing short of incredible and really does keep you going\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Paul\u2019s sponsors combined with a raffle held at the pub over Easter have so far raised over \u00a31400 for Mero\u2019s World. The bleed kits cost around \u00a3500 each to assemble and install, so Paul and the rest of the team at The Victoria are continuing their efforts to raise money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/satellite.mmu.ac.uk\/northernquota-old\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/437\/2023\/05\/341348382_245043174571958_8087654132391822401_n-1-819x1024.jpg\")