North West rugby star Charlie Mulchrone is set to take on five marathons in 24 hours to raise money in memory of his father Paddy, a journalist who passed away in 2020 after a successful career at the Manchester Evening News, and later The Mirror.
Charlie began his rugby career at Wilmslow RUFC, which is also home to Looseheadz, one of the charities the player’s efforts will support. Father Paddy also played for Wilmslow, although when it came to a professional career he opted for the printing presses rather than the rugby field.
After two years in Wilmslow’s first team, Charlie moved to Macclesfield in National League 1, rugby’s third tier, for two years. He then transferred to Rotherham, where he became fully professional in rugby union’s second tier, the Championship. His career next took him to Premiership Worcester and most recently Harlequins, for whom he signed in 2016. He played there for four years before stepping aside last month.
Both rugby and journalism run in the Mulchrone family. Charlie’s brother Paddy played alongside him at Rotherham and is now the head of academy at Sale Sharks. The pair’s grandfather Vincent, meanwhile, made a name for himself as the Daily Mail’s man in both Manchester and London.
Charlie plans to cover the first four of his 26-mile challenges in the gym, climbing on board a rowing machine, an Assault bike, a Skierg, and a Watt Bike before hitting the streets around his Wimbledon home for the final leg.
He hopes to raise £7,500 for two organisations, Looseheadz, the Wilmslow RUFC-HQd, rugby-focused mental health charity, and Brú Columbanus, which provides accommodation for relatives of patients in Cork and helped Paddy’s family during his illness.
He told the MEN at the weekend: “I’m excited to be taking on this challenge and raising funds and awareness for two causes that are very close to my heart and supported my family during my dad’s illness. It’s going to be a massive 24 hours, testing me physically and mentally, but I’ve been training hard and feel in good shape.”
