The Great North Run 2011

18 September 2011

Julie Stewart

Dave and Jill completed the Great North Run today, running for two charities close to our hearts, Marie Curie Cancer Care and Cancer Research UK.

They each achieved a respectable time, more remarkable because neither had trained for the event!  Dave came in at 2:43:25 and Jill at 3:03:25 - both tell me they're pleased to have taken part but the likelihood of it happening again is slim to none!

A huge THANK YOU to everyone who sponsored them; your support is really, very much appreciated.

It's been an emotional day for us, the reason for taking part weighing heavy.  Tom used to watch the Great North Run TV coverage every year, having taken part himself in 1985, when Dave was 23 months and I was 8 months pregnant with Jill.  Tom hadn't trained either (it must be a Stewart thing!) and only took part after being talked into it by a friend, who subsequently injured himself and didn't take part in the race.  Tom wasn't running for anyone but himself, purely because he was entered and had said he would do it, but was proud to achieve a time around the two and a half hours mark (it's too long ago now to remember anything exact) though said it was his first and last time in the race - Dave and Jill are saying the same today!

Today was extra poignant because we heard that Harry "the pipe" Morris, a very dear friend, passed away around 8am this morning, losing his brave fight against cancer.  I waited until Dave and Jill were in the bar, at the end of the race, to tell them the sad news, and we drank a toast to Harry and, of course, to Tom.  Our hearts are with Harry's family today.

We haven't totted up the exact monies collected but, between them, Dave and Jill have raised around £1500 ... So fantastic ... I'm so very proud of them both and Tom would have loved today, cheering them on, cuddles after the finish line then straight to the pub.

Here are some of our memories of the day:

Well Done Dave and Jill - you've done yourselves proud!