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Wings
Wingerworth adventurer reaches Chesterfield!
Eric Keeler: ‘I have been hosted more times than I have had to camp!
Long-distance running is supposed to be a lonely occupation, but Wingerworth’s Eric Keeler is making friends all along the way in America. John Winter report
WINGERWORTH long distance runner Eric Keeler, 29, received a warm welcome in Chesterfield on his 4,200 miles
journey across the USA, from East
to West, corner to corner.
Not Chesterfield, Derbyshire, of
course. This was Chesterfield, New Hampshire, one of many communities that have opened their hearts to the lone runner.
Eric’s mum, Fiona, of Woodview Close, Wingerworth, said: "Initially I was extremely worried about his journey, but with social media and tracking technology, I can follow him around. I always know where he is. I even knew when he went in a McDonald’s yesterday!
“People have been terrific in helping
out and providing somewhere for him to stay at night, and then next morning even taking him back to where they picked him up from. He sends me photos, and looks so happy that he is obviously enjoying himself.”
Eric originally had a target of raising £10,000 for Spinal Research but people are so generous that he had nearly reached that target and aims for more.
Eric, who started his run on April 29th, said by email: “ I am currently in New Hampshire and will be crossing into Vermont. Currently on
345 miles in the last 17 days. Everyone is very friendly and I have been hosted more times than I have had to camp!
“I am a few days behind schedule, but I did set myself a pretty tough one to keep up with! It's nothing that is a worry.
“The buggy is doing great, taking everything that is thrown at it. It took about a week for my body to get used to covering 20-plus miles a day. For the first week, my Achilles was the size of a water melon!”
The link to donate towards Spinal Research is at CornerToCorner.run/ where-to-donate/
Dog bin confusion
WINGERWORTH Parish Councillors are confused by policies over
dog bins.
It costs the council £1,300
a quarter to empty dog bins in the village. Although NE Derbyshire District Council say that dog bins should be kept separate from other bins, several other local councils say residents can just put the waste into their green bins.
“If we can use the green bins for both, we can save a considerable amount of money. There are quiite a few people in Wingerworth who are using the green bins for dog waste already, and many more who simply don't bother to clear up after their dogs!” said Council Chair, Coun Diana Ruff.
• School Patrol cuts are again being discussed by DCC, as a way to save money. The parish council will oppose any loss of the School Crossing Patrol Service.
Chair Coun Diana Ruff said: “What price do you put on a child’s life?”
Coun Chris Hutchings added: “If we look at the example of bad parking near Deer Park School, there should be more crossings, not less. I think we should resist this.”
• MP Lee Rowley, local councillors, 20 residents, four children, and a dog took part in the village litter-pick. Almost 30 bags were filled. • The council meeting heard that recurrent income received was £178,952 against a budget of £165,848.
The £13,000-plus surplus was largely due to an increase in lettings after setting a prudent budget in anticipation of the loss of income from the nursery.
This means an overall surplus for the year of nearly £500 against what was predicted to be a £10,000 deficit. Capital expenditure at the end of the year was £7,387, which included over £3,000 for new tables at the hall, with the remaining £4,000 on minor items including a memorial bench at the church.
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