9/27/2010 5:12:01 PM
ARM runners raise over £3,000 for Naomi House and Friends of PICU
14 ARM employees made us proud on Sunday when they participated
in the New Forest Half Marathon, in the process raising £3,300 (and
counting) for two charities: Naomi House Children's Hospice and
PICU.
From left to right, the ARM
runners were:
James Spurling, Andrew Mealey,
Derek Goff, Dil Bhakar, Justin Chambers, Luke South, Andrew
Vaughan, Simon Withers, David Powell, Martin Grady, John
Dunaway, Fran Jones, Christian Staunton and Nick Payen.
The track, based around picturesque New Milton, took in 13.1
miles of undulating hills and pretty hamlets, and proffered a few
surprises including some challenging climbs, jelly bean-dispensing
locals and at least one new forest pony stampede. If any of us had
hoped that the Run Profile in our runners packs was an
exaggeration, alas, we were wrong: this uniquely hilly half
marathon is apparently the UK's most topographically variable (phew
- didn't repeat "hilly") - which is really just another way of
saying it wasn't particularly easy on the legs!
In terms of ability our runners varied from distance-running
veterans and gym-heads to those who had done little more than walk
to the shops in years. All the ARM runners completed the race
admirably, with our fastest few clocking in at around 1 hour 45 or
thereabouts. Equally impressive were those who had doubted they
could even run 13+ miles, and did.
Some of team ARM after the race,
pictured with mascot Clyde.
To date, with a final push of fundraising to come, ARM has
raised £3,300. At the last count the funds were split with £1,800
going to the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit at Southampton Hospital
and £1,300 for Naomi House Children's hospice. On behalf of all of
the ARM runners, I'd like to thank all our sponsors - you really
made all the difference, and I know from talking to the ARM gang on
the day that a few of us sought inspiration in the harder miles by
thinking of the good causes we espoused.
Thank you.
Simon Withers
Acting Section Manager
Marketing and Proposals Department
Friends of PICU
Charity Registration No. 1116880
Naomi House (Wessex Children’s
Hospice Trust Charity) Registration No.1002832