Addiscombe councillor Mark Watson is embarking on a 12-hour ultramarathon this Saturday to raise funds for a human rights and environmental cause in Alleppey, India.

Ready for the long run: charity runner Mark Watson

Watson is attempting to run 100 kilometres – about 62 miles – along the Thames towpath from Putney to Henley.

“Every penny raised will go towards the project,” Watson said.

“Petrol-flavoured fish. Sewage in the water. In the backwaters of Alleppey, India, this is what people have to put up with every day just to survive. Why? Because some unscrupulous businesses are cashing in on the British tourists who arrive in their thousands – and are destroying this treasured landscape.

“What’s needed is a strong code of conduct for barge holiday operators in the region to make sure everyone’s doing what they can to protect the waterways of Alleppey. Local people are starting to create this together, but they need our support to make it work.

“Therefore I am running 100km to raise funds in order that Sudha Soni, who runs a local environmental co-operative in Kerala, can continue her work in bringing people together to ensure local communities and the ecology of the region are not adversely impacted by tourism – every penny raised will go to Sudha and her team – so please sponsor me today.”

Watson promises to live tweet throughout his trek on Saturday – @cllrmarkwatson

• To sponsor Watson’s run, go to https://www.justgiving.com/markwatson100k

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