Great North Run
18 September 2005
What a day! Record numbers in the Great North Run. Over 200 athletic souls running for the MND Association. A fine sunny day - perfect weather for spectators but distinctly too hot for most runners.
One of our runners, Liam Phillips, was overcome by the heat and collapsed partway through the Run. He was taken to a nearby 1st Aid Station where he recovered and insisted on completing the Run. First runner home for MND Association was Derek Reed with a time of 1 hour 34 minutes 37 seconds. |
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| Liam Phillips |
On arrival at our Welcome Tent he threw himself dramatically onto the grass outside. After getting up again and checking in, he was persuaded to do it again for the cameras.
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| Derek Reed |
First female to finish for us was Nicola Richards
(time: 1 hour 39 minutes 58 seconds).
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| Nicola Richards |
Soon runners were arriving thick and fast and the Welcome tent began to resemble the first day at the sales. The crowds spilled out onto the grass outside and usurped space in front of the other charity tents on either side.
Runners were checked in and then they and their guests were provided with food and drink.
Staff from National Office were circulating, chatting to as many runners as they could manage, thanking them for their efforts and trying to interest them in even more ambitious projects. Two runners were in fancy dress - Eddie Cooper as the Fire Brigade’s Blaze Bear and Chris Higgins hiding behind a grotesque mask. |
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| Chris Higgins |
They each deserve a special medal for persevering through the sweltering heat of the Run.
Gradually families and groups that had become separated during the Run reunited again and linked up with their supporters, exchanged experiences and posed for the inevitable photographs.
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| Jonathan Glover, Stephen Jackson, Philip Clarke, Gerard Jackson & Peter Culmel |
Some runners seemed to have brought half their town with them.
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| McNally Vallente Supporters Club |
But most runners just congregated in their twos and threes, sharing a common sense of achievement with close family and friends.
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| Aidan Williams & Genevieve Brown |
Karim Megatli & supporters | Rachel Brown & Liz Nelmes |
Stars of the day were John Mackie and his team of wheelchair-pushers. Their achievement is highlighted here.
Eventually the flow of new arrivals ceased. Runners, their families and friends gradually drifted away to start the journey back home - local for some, but for others it was to such places as Exeter, Rayleigh in Essex, Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk, Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire or Welshpool in Powys.
By 5pm it was all over and the Welcome Tent was empty - just an ordinary tent again.
Our thanks...
First and foremost we thank our wonderful runners who put themselves through many hours of training and exertion for the benefit of people with Motor Neurone Disease, as well as canvassing for sponsorships - a task that many find more difficult than doing the Run itself.
You are a truly great set of people!
Secondly we thank the runners’ families and friends who have supported
them so well over the months and helped so much in the recruitment of
sponsors.
Finally we thank our volunteers and staff who worked so hard to make the
day a success for everyone else.
On a day like this, you begin to feel that the human race isn't so bad at all.
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| The Moran Clan |