AN 11-YEAR-OLD football fanatic ran 83km in seven days to raise money for Oxfordshire MIND.

Leo Cole is missing his beloved football and he is even missing the 52-mile round trip he takes to get to weekly training and games.

To help raise money for Oxfordshire MIND, he set out to run the distance from his family home on Glyme Close in Abingdon to the county ground in Swindon where he usually plays football.

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On Sunday, April 26, he started running between eight and 15 miles a day the 11-year-old overall ran the equivalent of two marathons just around his local area in Abingdon.

He finished his challenge by running to the Kassam Stadium from his home on Saturday May 2.

Oxford Mail:

Leo decided to raise money for the mental health charity Oxfordshire MIND as it is a charity close to his heart after he also struggled with anxiety.

He has raised more than three times the original target of £1,000 and has reached £3,235 from donations on his Go Fund Me web page.

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His dad Graham Cole said: “I’m extremely proud he has suffered with anxiety in the past and he has obviously seen the amazing things people have done for the NHS, but he wanted to do something slightly different and a bit more relevant for him.

“He chose Oxfordshire MIND because they have been great.

“He has had the support from some Oxfordshire United players and a lot of the Swindon Town players as well, he has been chuffed with the kind of support he has had.”

Oxford Mail:

Leo ran around his local area to rack up the miles by himself but did get some support along the way.

His dad added: “He went completely on his own for the first five days and then he got a bit bored, so I did the last two days on the bike with him to just keep him going.”

To help Leo raise money for Oxfordshire MIND donate to his Go Fund Me: gofundme.com/f/leos-running-back-to-football