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Eddie Izzard meets the Leader as he runs through Wrexham for Sport Relief 2009.

Photo set is posted on FLICKR.

Eddie Izzard keeps on running for Sport Relief from Sam Downie on Vimeo.

[from bordercountiesadvertizer.co.uk]

Advertizer reporter David Lawson caught up (but only just) with comedian and actor Eddie Izzard last week, as he ran from Oswestry to Chirk as part of his incredible 30 marathons in 30 days challenge for Sport Relief.

Despite being half way through his 15th marathon in as many days, Eddie said he was greatly enjoying the area’s countryside, which was helping take his mind off the painful feet and legs.

“This is something I believe we all have in us to do,” he explained, “For centuries, people around the world have run like this for days to hunt food and it’s in our genes. If for example war broke out tomorrow and our survival depended on it I feel we would all find the capacity.”

Having stopped off in Oswestry, Eddie was heading on through Chirk towards Wrexham and the end of another gruelling 30mile day, being filmed for Sport Relief later in the year and raising money and awareness along the way.

…on the CoD Twitter page! 🙂

There might be some “things” that are exclusively released on Twitter… ::cough:: Freebie giveaway ::cough::

[from shropshirestar.com]

Comedian and actor Eddie Izzard proved his determination to battle through pain and complete the Mid Wales section of his 1,000-mile plus Sport Relief run across Britain.

Cheered on by surprised motorists and residents of towns and villages on his gruelling run from Llanbadarn Ffynnyn to Welshpool yesterday, Eddie had hoped to complete his 12th marathon in a fortnight in four hours.

But severe blisters on his little toe forced him at one point down to a walk, every step agony until he could receive painkillers from his support team.

He has challenged himself to run across the UK by doing up to 30 miles a day for six days a week taking in London, Cardiff, Belfast and Edinburgh then back to London.

He said he had no hesitation in saying yes when Sport Relief asked him if he wanted to do a challenge.

He said: “I had always wanted to do a big physical running challenge, and this seemed a great way to do it and also raise money to help Africa and the poorest countries in the world, as well as projects that Sport Relief fund in the UK.

“I was also going to be advised by Olympic experts who have worked with Sport Relief before. They would help me keep running in the right direction.”

But he admitted that his little toe was causing him pain and worry.

“I will carry on, I will do it. But when the painkillers wear off it is like a pin stabbing my foot every step,” he added.

“I just hope everyone will hear about the run and sponsor me on the Sport Relief donation page.”

Holding a Welsh flag and making five-mile stops for water and to receive treatment for his injured foot, Eddie ran through Newtown and then on to Berriew, where he made an impromptu stop at the Horseshoes pub to talk to waiting supporters and enjoy a lemonade.

Bar manager Jim Horton said: “When we heard Eddie was coming the whole pub emptied. I am a huge fan so I locked the till and went out.

“I am even more of a fan now, what he is doing is amazing I couldn’t do it.”

A small group of Ellesmere runners joined Eddie for just over four miles until he reached Berriew.

Will Morris and Melvyn Austin said they were concerned for him running along the busy A483 trunk road. They said: “We did have some hairy moments with the traffic but Eddie was running really strongly until his injury started slowing him down.”

Last week runners from Builth Wells joined him on part of his 10th marathon run.

Actor and comedian Eddie Izzard heads towards Swansea and Skewen, where he lived as a young boy, on the latest leg of his charity run around the UK.

Rhodri Lewis tried to keep pace with Izzard, who is trying to complete 34 marathons in seven weeks for Sport Relief.

[from walesonline.co.uk]

He may be a world renowned stand-up comedian and Hollywood actor, but to 99-year-old Gwen Watkins, Eddie Izzard will always be the “mischievous little boy next door”.

The flamboyant funny man, currently running a gruelling 1,100 miles across the UK for Sport Relief, paid a visit to his old home in Skewen while on the Welsh leg of his trek and found the time to chat to his former neighbour.

“It was very exciting to see him again, the last time must have been when he was about six,” said Mrs Watkins of the 47-year-old, who lived in the area for a couple of years in the late 60s.

“Even though he’s a big star now he made such a fuss of me and said it was good to be back.”

Having started out from London last Monday on his epic attempt to run the equivalent of 34 marathons in seven weeks, Izzard announced he would be adding extra miles to his journey just so he could revisit the house where he lost his mother Dorothy to cancer.

“I never really got to meet her because she was so ill at the time, but I can remember Eddie and his brother walking to catch the school bus and thinking it was so sad for them both,” Mrs Watkins added.

Asked what the comic was like as a boy, she replied: “He was like most little boys I suppose, full of mischief, but a sweet lad really.”