TWO members of H&H Group Plc have taken on the challenge of completing the Great North Run in aid of the Great North Air Ambulance.
As part of the company’s ongoing initiatives to raise a significant amount of money for their “charity of the year” the Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS), Chief Executive, Richard Rankin, and Ian Bicket, Senior Management Accountant, are taking on the exhausting, Great North Run’s 13.1 miles challenge.
The Great North Run is taking place on September 12 2021 and Richard and Ian will have competition from around 56,998 other runners, all completing the run, many of them for their own charitable causes.
This year, 2021, marks the 40th anniversary of Newcastle’s now world-famous half marathon, which first took place in June 1981 with 12,264 starters.
This year a few changes have been made to the course to help ensure an element of Covid safety, and understandably, there is great excitement that the race can actually be run again!
Richard said: “As is the case with many people, I did a lot of running throughout lockdown and was feeling confident until my knee decided to create some last-minute uncertainty by damaging a ligament during a run.
“However, it’s such a fantastic event for a great cause that I’ll be on the start line ready to run, shuffle or limp the new route. I’m also pleased that they are able to run it this year, after having to put last year’s on hold, as it is such a huge fundraiser for so many charities, and we are thrilled to be able to take part for GNAAS.”
Ian said “This is my first half marathon, so I won’t know until the day if I’m ready or not! However, I’m feeling good, and with under a month to go to the event I think I’m feeling ready!
“With no injuries for me so far, I’m feeling confident I can give Richard a run for his money! But internal competition aside, as long as we raise a load more funds for GNAAS we’ll be happy.”
Nina Oxley, Group Marketing Manager, completed Race to Base last year, cycling 42 miles per week, the concept being to cover the distance that the GNAAS critical care team fly when returning to one of their bases from Newcastle RVI, the North’s major trauma centre, the RVI to Cumbria airbase is 42 miles. Nina raised a fantastic amount of money for the charity.
If you would like to support Richard and Ian, you can sponsor them at their just giving page at either - https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/ian-bicket1 or https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Richard-Rankin1
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here