Chris Runs for Brave James, Finally
As you may have already read in the original story, CIA’s Group Service Manager Chris Jones had signed up to take part in the Great South Run in October. Inspired by James, a friend of the family who had recently been diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia at just four years old, Chris was going to run to raise money for Children with Leukaemia at Great Ormond Street Hospital.
However, Chris didn’t make the race on the 25 October because he went down with (suspected swine) flu just the day before. Having put in months of training and fund raising, he was completely devastated.
He particularly hated the thought of letting people down so he decided to do the run on his own in November, following the path of the Great South Run as closely as possible – starting and finishing at the Pyramid Centre in Southsea but, because some areas (like the Naval Base) were out of bounds, diverting slightly into town. The route was approximately 0.4 miles longer than the Great South Run itself.
Chris used his misfortune to good effect by drumming up more support for the charity from local radio stations and newspapers – click to listen/read to them: Chris’ appearance on BBC Radio Solent’s Julian Clegg Breakfast Show (
), The News – Portsmouth & Southsea, Havant & Waterlooville and Fareham & Gosport editions – (read), the Petersfield Herald (read) and the Petersfield Post (read), as well as follow up stories in The News (read) and The Petersfield Herald (read). He even gained some additional supporters in the shape of Imogen Restell from Denmead, Jenna Fuller from Waterlooville, Donna Stagg from Hilsea and Tom Bauer from London who offered to run with him.
So on Sunday 15 November 2009 at 11:00, Imogen, Jenna, Donna, Tom and our very own Chris set off around Portsmouth, cheered on by a group of dedicated supporters. They completed the course in a respectable 1h 43 minutes.
Chris would like to thank everyone for their support, especially those who ran with him and kept him going. A special thank you goes to Donna who very kindly presented Chris with her own Great South Run medal and winner’s bag at the finishing line.
The main reason for the run, of course, was to raise as much cash as possible for Children with Leukaemia at Great Ormond Street Hospital, and at the last count the total stood at over £1000. Lucy Brooks from the charity has thanked Chris and his supporters for their generous donation.
Well done, Chris!
