England's all-rounder Ben Stokes, a World Cup winner, will run his maiden half marathon on Tuesday to raise funds for a charity and hospitals battling the COVID-19 pandemic.
Stokes said in a video message posted on Instagram that he was inspired by three people calling themselves the 'Cricket Garden Marathon Team,' who performed full marathons in their own back gardens, to run and raise money for the British National Health Services (NHS) and the Chance to Shine foundation.
"(A half marathon) has always been something I've been dreaming about doing but have never really got around to doing it," Stokes said.
"Obviously we were in lockdown so I figured what a perfect chance to go out and if I'm going to do that I should try and raise some money as well," he said.
Admitting that the furthest he's ever run is 8 km, the 28-year-old hopes his effort will encourage individuals to donate to the Cricket Garden Marathon team's page.
"I'm hopefully hoping to inspire people to make more contributions to the Cricket Garden Marathon, I'm just trying to add some more money to what they've managed to do. Stokes added that the Chance to Shine Foundation is really close to his heart because it aims to give all kids the opportunity to play, learn and improve through cricket.
"They help NHS and support Chance to Shine which obviously has a really strong connection to cricket that's what I am."
Cricketers have done their bit to support those in need in the current crisis.
India skipper Virat Kohli and former South African batsman AB De Villiers put their 2016 Indian Premier League (IPL) kits on auction against Gujarat Lions to help combat coronavirus.
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