A Sheffield dad is aiming to raise funds for the city’s Children’s Hospital and a charity which support motor industry workers when he runs the a half marathon later this month.

Salipa Mwelwa, 33, who lives in Wincobank, Sheffield, is aiming to raise £1,000 for the automotive-based charity Ben.org and the Children’s Hospital’s Ryegate Centre. He will be taking part in the Sheffield Half Marathon on 23 March.

The engineering graduate works at VMB Autocentre, which opened in February last year. He now wants to “get the community together for a great cause”.

Salipa, who has received £631 in donations so far, said: “The Children’s Hospital is one that I’m rooting for mostly.

“It’s quite close to me. I have ended up taking my little one there quite a few times and the people there have always been very helpful, very welcoming, no matter the situation they keep you calm and let you know what’s going on.”

The Sheffield resident is also running for Ben.org, a charity also close to him.

Ben.org provides support catered to the current and ex-workers of the motor industry, working with both individuals and companies to improve the mental and physical health of people close to the industry.

This isn’t the first time Salipa has ran a half marathon. In 2020 he completed one dressed as the Marvel superhero Black Panther in order to raise funds for Chesterfield’s Ashgate Hospice who took care of his mother, exceeding his £1,000 goal.

Salipa hasn’t run anything close to this distance since. He said: “It’s a bit of a shock to the system, so that’s why I’m getting on with my training. It does get a bit hard sometimes, especially when it’s cold and dark.”

However, he said it does feel rewarding. “I just have to push through that voice at the start that tells you ‘just do it tomorrow’.”

To donate, go to the JustGiving page here.

However Salipa has urged that there are other ways to help, if you don’t have the money to donate.

“If anyone wants to support and give us a cheer it will help us push through,” he said.