(Photo Alan Burton.)
" This year we have launched 'Barry's Project 150' and with your help we are aiming to raise £150,000 to fund a specialist room at The Christie's new teenage cancer unit."
This is a 10k with a twist. Timepieces are banned and prizes are awarded according to how close you are to your predicted finishing time. Unlike last year when I was 14 seconds out and just in the prize bracket, this time I was 58 seconds out. Although I knew I'd be slower than last year I thought I'd be even slower than I was, so a good result then. :-)
During the run and not far from the finish, as I emerged through the stone squeeze stile back onto the canal towpath and turned right, I was confronted by the sight of a runner stretched out across the towpath with foil blanket over him and people fussing round. As I stepped carefully between his head to the right and canal a couple of feet to the left, he looked as if he were sleeping peacefully. I feared the worst and felt quite morose, with thoughts of heart attack and such like filling my mind. We were told at the presentation that he was in hospital and well taken care of. Thankfully, later reports on Facebook from the man himself confirmed that all was well - no heart attack, just a fit of some sort. I felt so relieved. Glowing reports of support from marshals and bystanders were brought forth by the incident. Well done all, and thanks to organiser Tony Ward once again for putting on such a fine, well-supported race.
When everything had been totted up, £1,165 had been raised, which is fantastic. Many people (including me) owe their lives to The Christie. That charity can never get too many donations in my opinion.
Pictures were a bit limited this time, not to mention more blurred than they had any right to be.
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