Michael runs for the helicopter heroes who saved his life
Three years ago Michael Amlin found himself trapped in a van for hours with a smashed leg – and he owes his life to the Great North Air Ambulance that airlifted him to hospital.
Michael’s leg was saved – and now he is planning to put it to good use to take part in the Start Fitness Redcar Half Marathon on 13 June, organized by Tees Valley Leisure, to raise money for the lifesaving charity.
He said: “If it weren’t for the Air Ambulance I wouldn?t be here ? and now I?ve recovered enough, I want to not only raise money for them, but also help raise awareness of the amazing work they do and all the people they save every year.”
Michael was just having an ordinary day at work when he pulled out to cross the A19 and was hit by another car. The crash left him trapped by his leg for more than two and a half hours.
“My dad came down to the scene, and they actually asked him for permission to remove my leg to they could get me out, but he asked them to keep trying and they succeeded,” he said. “The fact that the Air Ambulance was on the scene with a doctor aboard made all the difference.”
Michael was in hospital for weeks, and it was six months before his badly-broken leg was healed enough for him to get back to work. “In the years since, I’ve tried to do the Great North Run twice, but failed because I still have problems with my leg and knee,” he said. “This time, though, I?m confident of making the distance and raising as much money as possible for the charity. The Air Ambulance is something you never think about – until you need it. So I’d like people to be more aware of the fantastic work they do, and to help support them.”
Race organiser Paddy Corcoran, Managing Director of Tees Valley Leisure, said Michael’s story was inspirational.
“It is fantastic that Michael is back to full fitness to do this run, when he could have lost his life or his leg,” he said.
“The Air Ambulance is a superb charity, and is one of many good causes that people are raising funds for through the run – we wish them, and Michael, good luck with their race and their fundraising.”
We still have places available so if anyone fancies running for a good cause they should visit the official Redcar Half Marathon website at www.runteesvalley.co.uk to register their entry. It’s a great event and the atmosphere is always terrific on the day with music provided by TFM radio and magic 1170.
Thanks to the backing of specialist sports company Start Fitness; this year’s entrants will receive an exclusive high-performance T-shirt and a high-quality messenger bag, plus vouchers to spend at Tees Valley Leisure centres and prize money of more than £6,000 is up for grabs.
The event is sponsored by Redcar & Cleveland Council and supported by the Local Enterprise Growth Initiative and Hatton Traffic.
Paul takes Redcar in his stride on national marathon challenge
When Paul Marriott strides out in the Start Fitness Redcar Half Marathon on June 13, his run will be just a tiny part of a national challenge – completing 21 runs in 21 counties this year.
Paul, 51 is the Chief Executive of national youth homelessness charity Depaul UK, and is taking on the challenge to celebrate the charity’s 21st birthday.
All of the 21 runs are local to a Depaul UK project or affiliated Nightstop scheme, and this time Paul is running the race in support of Nightstop Teesside, a scheme affiliated to Depaul UK.
Nightstop Teesside provides emergency accommodation in the homes of local volunteers for young people on the point of becoming homeless. Volunteer hosts provide secure accommodation on a night by night basis, whilst trained staff work towards securing a longer term solution to their housing crisis.
Paul started his challenge at the Epsom Oddballs Race on 31 January, and is aiming to complete 21 runs over the course of the year, an average of one every fortnight. The Redcar run will be his twelfth race.
He’s being helped on his way in the Redcar Half Marathon by organisers Tees Valley Leisure, who have donated two free places in the run.
Depaul UK formed in 1989 as a response to the growing number of young homeless people living on the streets of London, but has been working in the North East for 11 years. It has now helped over 5000 homeless and disadvantaged young people in the area.
The charity is now the largest youth homelessness charity in the UK, helping over 3,500 young homeless people each year. The organisation provides emergency and long term accommodation projects, as well as training schemes, family mediation programmes, mentoring and community projects.
Paul Marriott said, “I hope that by completing this challenge I can raise some money for Depaul UK and make more people aware of the work that is done to tackle the problem of youth homelessness in the UK. I also hope it will be a bit of fun and a good way to raise awareness of our 21st birthday.”
Paddy Corcoran, race organiser and managing director of Tees Valley Leisure, said he was delighted to see Paul participating in the race for such a good cause.
“He’s still got a long way to go in his challenge, but its great to know that he’ll be seeing the sights of Redcar on his running marathon,” he said.
“Depaul UK is a very worthwhile charity doing excellent work in this region, and we hope we can help Paul on his way to a huge fundraising boost.” he said.
Thanks to the backing of specialist sports company Start Fitness, this year’s entrants will receive an exclusive high-performance T-shirt and a high-quality messenger bag, plus vouchers to spend at Tees Valley Leisure centres.
Prize money of more than £6,000 will be up for grabs to attract elite athletes and to encourage record- breaking finish times.
The event is sponsored by Redcar & Cleveland Council and supported by the Local Enterprise Growth Initiative (LEGI) with sponsorship from TFM Radio and Magic 1170 and Hatton Traffic.
Anyone wishing to enter the Recar half Marthon should visit the official website at www.runteesvalley.co.uk to enter online.
To find out more about Depaul UK, or to sponsor Paul, go to www.depauluk.org
Firefighter Paul’s 999 half marathon mission
Firefighters need to be quick off the mark – and Redcar fireman Paul Lowes will be proving he’s hot stuff when he takes part in the 13.1km Redcar Half Marathon in June.
For Paul – very appropriately – will be running as competitor 999 in the race, and is expected to finish in the top ten.
He said: “I haven’t done the Redcar Half Marathon since 2003, when I came second, so I’m really looking forward to it.”
Paul, from Guisborough, was encouraged to enter the 13 June race by a friend, but needs no special training because he keeps up his fitness all year round thanks to his job and to his other sporting activities.
“As well as running, I normally enter duathlons, which consist of a 15km run, a 40km bike ride then a further 5km run, so I stay pretty fit,” he said. “I’ve been selected to take part in the World Championships in Scotland in September in my age group, which is 40.”
Paul runs for North York Moors Athletic club, and is supported by Bike Traks of Great Ayton's Cleveland Runners shop. He hopes to complete the Half Marathon in around 70 minutes.
“I like the Redcar Half Marathon because it’s local, it’s really scenic, well-organised and it’s well-supported – and because the route this year goes past my fire station twice!” he said.
This year’s Half Marathon, which has attracted a new sponsor Start Fitness, a North East based sports clothing and footwear retailer, is predicted to attract even more runners than the 1600 who took part last year, as it will take place in the milder weather in June instead of mid April as in previous years. Prize money totalling £6270 will be up for grabs to attract elite runners to the event.
The race which is organised by Tees Valley Leisure in partnership with Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council, will once again be backed by Britain’s best known Paralympic star and gold medalist, Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson. It will be supported by the Local Enterprise Growth Initiative (LEGI) with sponsorship from TFM Radio and Magic 1170 and Hatton Traffic.
Race organiser Paddy Corcoran, Managing Director of Tees Valley Leisure, said: “We’re certainly attracting some high-calibre entrants to the Half Marathon again this year, and we’re delighted to have such a top-notch local contender as Paul taking part. We wish him good luck – perhaps he can beat his last position!”
Entry forms for the Redcar Half Marathon are now available online from the Tees Valley Leisure website at www.runteesvalley.co.uk
DARBY FAMILY ARE FIRST FOR FAMILY FUN!
Hundreds of families are expected to line up for this year’s 3km Redcar Family Fun Run which takes place on Sunday June 13 alongside the Start Fitness Redcar Half Marathon.
And the Darby family from Plantation Road in Redcar are leading the way by being the first family to sign up for this popular event.
Ola Darby, aged 5 will join her brother Oren, aged 3 and mum and dad Neil and Stacy Darby (both 32 from Redcar) along with cousin Brooke Dowey aged 8 and mum Lindsey Dowey (30) from Marske.
The Darby family recently won the Family Fun Easter Bonanza competition, promoted by Tees Valley Leisure with the Evening Gazette and were amongst the lucky winners which entitled them to goodies packs and free entry for being one of the first families to sign up. Ola and Oren’s aunty, Lindsey Davey (30) from Marske will also be joining the family in the 3km run.
Mum Stacy Darby commented: “We were absolutely thrilled to learn that we were the very first family to enter the Family Fun Run. We’ve never entered the event before but had heard it was a great event. We are really looking forward to it and the kids are so excited and can’t wait for June.
The family Fun Run is being organised by Tees Valley Leisure in partnership with Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council with generous support from NHS Redcar and Cleveland. The event is backed by Joanne Jackson, Great Britain’s’ race walker and local sports celebrity who believes the event is great way of getting people of all ages fit.
This year’s run will take place on the Green Lane playing fields, a safe off road location adjacent to the Stray in Redcar which will enable fun runners to enjoy unrivalled views of the sea and Cleveland Hills.
Event organiser Paddy Corcoran, who is head of Tees Valley leisure which run the Redcar & Cleveland leisure centres, is keen to make the event even bigger and better this year and hopes to attract even more entries than the 650 entries achieved in 2009.
He explained “We are hoping to attract even more entries this year as we have moved the Fun Run to June so the weather will be warmer. It’s a great chance for several generations of families to come together and share a great day out – mums, dads, aunts, uncles, grannies and granddads are all welcome. There will be lots of activities and children’s entertainment and it is not to be missed. All entrants will receive a FREE goodies bag which will be full of surprises!
Peter Price, Director of Public Health at NHS Redcar and Cleveland added: “I am delighted that NHS Redcar and Cleveland is once again supporting this wonderful family event which we are sure – due to its growing popularity and success - will attract even more entrants this year.
“The distance is within the capabilities of everyone regardless of their age and fitness level. I would especially encourage families to enter to increase their activity levels as regular physical activity can help all of us lead healthier and happier lives regardless of age.”
To enter the Family Fun Run, you can pick up entry forms from any of the five Tees Valley Leisure sites: Eston Sports Academy, Guisborough Swimming Pool, Saltburn Leisure Centre, Redcar Leisure Centre and Loftus Leisure Centre. For further information on the Family Fun Run call 01642 492905 or visit www.teesvalleyleisure.co.uk.
Runners wishing to enter the Start Fitness Redcar Half Marathon which takes place on the same day can enter online at www.teesvalleyleisure.co.uk or www.runteesvalley.co.uk
Eston Sports Academy hosts the world’s biggest fundraising swim
Date: 18th April
Time: 9.00am – 12 noon
Please arrive early to allow cameras to adjust to poolside humidity
Swimmers in Tees Valley will make a splash for charity on 16/17/18th April 2010 as they complete the Swimathon 2010 challenge at Eston Sports Academy helping to raise money for Marie Curie Cancer Care and The Swimathon Foundation. Eston is one of over 500 pools nationwide hosting Swimathon 2010.
Angie McGee, from Tees Valley Leisure, which runs Eston Sports Academy on behalf of Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council said: “ Eston Sports Academy is delighted to be hosting the swimathon once again. It’s going to be fantastic to see so many people in our community getting in the pool for this fundraising challenge. People taking part will be raising money for Marie Curie Cancer Care. So not only will they be getting fit and having fun, they will be doing it for a great cause.”
Duncan Goodhew MBE, Olympic gold medallist and Swimathon President, comments: “Once again people up and down the UK are diving into Swimathon en masse. I’d like to wish everyone who’s signed up the very best of luck with their swims and encourage those considering giving it a go to throw off those doubts and slip on your swimming gear. Come on in, the water’s beautiful!”
Swimathon 2010 is open to everyone, encouraging people to challenge themselves to swim 5k, 2.5k or 1.5k. There is also a 5k challenge for teams of up to five people. Entry for Swimathon 2010 closes on Thursday 15 April 2010 at 23:45. To enter, sponsor a swimmer or find out more about Swimathon 2010 visit www.swimathon.org.
Win a fun run place free – and an Easter egg!
Fit kids are getting the chance to win free entry to one of the North East’s most popular family fun runs – and get an Easter egg thrown in!
Tees Valley Leisure is offering FREE places and an Easter goodies pack including an Easter egg to the first 20 children under the age of 16 who enter the 3km Family Fun Run that’s being held alongside 2010 Start Fitness Redcar Half Marathon on 13 June.
Both runs are being organised by Tees Valley Leisure in partnership with Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council and sponsored by NHS Redcar and Cleveland.
Last year the Family Fun Run attracted 650 entrants and this year organisers hope to attract over 1000 entries from across the Tees Valley.
The run will take place on the Green Lane playing fields, adjacent to the Stray in Redcar. Fun runners will be able to enjoy unrivalled views of the sea and Cleveland Hills in a safe off road location thanks to the support of Teesside Athletic Football Club who manage the facility.
Angie McGee, from Tees Valley Leisure, who is one of the event organisers said: “It’s a great day out for all the family and a great chance for people of all ages to have a day of fun. There will be free children’s entertainment and music provided By TFM and magic 1170. The atmosphere is always terrific on the day and it’s not to be missed!
“Our Easter Bonanza competition is a great chance for youngsters to enter the 3km family fun event and win a free place – and you can do the run with your whole family …mums, dads, aunts, uncles, grannies!”
But you'd better be quick – entry for the Easter offer on the 3km fun run ends on 16 April. All you need to do to enter is email your name, age, address and telephone number and the answer to the following question: “What date is the Family Fun Run?” to Sheila Chapman at scpr@btopenworld.com marked “Easter Bonanza”.
To enter the Family Fun Run, you can pick up entry forms from any of the five Tees Valley Leisure sites: Eston Sports Academy, Guisborough Swimming Pool, Saltburn Leisure Centre, Redcar Leisure Centre and Loftus Leisure centre. For further information on the Family Fun Run call 01642 492905 or visit www.teesvalleyleisure.co.uk
People wishing to enter the Redcar Half Marathon can enter online at www.teesvalleyleisure.co.uk or www.runteesvalley.co.uk
Community groups get chance to grab a free internet cafe
Internet cafes could be set up in pubs, social clubs and village halls across Teesside, thanks to a centre that helps local people overcome their fear of technology.
The Cyber Valley internet centre at Eston Sports Academy, which is run by Tees Valley Leisure, provides basic IT training for people who do not usually use computers – and it has won £45,000 of Smarter Government funding for the cafes.
Centre manager and training officer Jackie Godward of Tees Valley Leisure said: “The aim is to make IT more accessible to wider communities and help them understand how it can help them with their day-to-day lives – for instance, in booking holidays, claiming benefits online, ordering goods online and so on.
“The centre now has enough funding to kit out about 15 small internet cafes at £1000 each to enable people to get online and we’re asking community groups to apply to us to set up a centre at their venue.
“Places that win funding will become UK online centres and will be supported by Cyber Valley with help, training and expertise on hand. We will also fund equipment including a computer and printer, and perhaps a webcam.”
The aim of the initiative is to help 10 new people get online a month who previously have not had the confidence to use the internet.
Cyber Valley promotes the My Guide2 online training package, an online learning system which includes a free email address and all the basics of computing. People using the centre range in age from youngsters to silver surfers in their eighties - anyone of any age is welcome.
“The idea of the Government’s online scheme is to give people the confidence to work online and not be afraid of technology,” said Jackie, who recently won a tutor of the year award for her work at Cyber Valley at Eston Sports Academy.
“This is a great opportunity for local groups to help people in their area get all the advantages that the internet can offer, and any organisation interested in setting up their own internet cafe should email me at jackiegodward@yahoo.co.uk or call in to the Cyber Valley centre at Eston Sports Academy.”
Meet the marathon man who used to struggle to walk downstairs....
Mark Leach used to run eight miles every other night – but then he was struck down by an illness so that he struggled to walk downstairs.
But now Mark, from Nunthorpe, Middlesbrough, is fighting fit again – and this year he’s taken on a gruelling running challenge to raise money for a cause that is close to his heart.
Mark will be tackling the 13-mile Start Fitness Redcar Half Marathon on 13 June as part of a four-race marathon effort that he hopes will help him net £5,000 for research into prostate cancer. But it wasn’t cancer that caused his own fall from fitness last time he did some serious running.
“My brother Tony and I managed to complete the London marathon in 2003, raising £3,000 for cancer charities,” he said. “But in November that year I was diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome or ME, following a bout of flu.
“This meant I went from running eight miles every other night, to not being able to walk down the stairs. I felt like my life was over – and if it wasn’t for my wife Vicky, who had to physically dress me and give me the will to go on, and the thought of my kids and their kids, I think I may have crumbled.”
Mark didn’t crumble, and has gradually recovered 90 per cent of his fitness. But seeing his father-in-law and his close friend struggle with prostate cancer has inspired him to get back to his fundraising ways.
“My friend John Stanton has thankfully recovered from cancer after a number of treatments, and my father-in-law Malcolm Lindridge from Seaton Carew, Hartlepool, is also doing well,” he said.
“Seeing them go through so many emotions on being diagnosed, I decided I would do some running to help fund research into the disease.”
Mark, 45 years old and a director of Lowe and Simpson in Stockton, will be tackling the 26-mile Edinburgh Marathon on 23 May, and the 13-mile Start Fitness Redcar Half Marathon in June, followed by the Great North Run on 19 September and the Dublin Marathon on 25 October.
He has set up a fundraising website at www.justgiving.com/mark-leach4runs, and he also has a Let’s raise money for Research into prostate cancer Facebook site that he is urging people to join.
He said: “I’ve got £975 pledged already, but I’d like everyone to help me hit the £5,000 target – just think, you may be the friend or family of someone who is carrying this disease without knowing.”
Paddy Corcoran, Head of Tees Valley Leisure which runs the leisure centres in Redcar and Cleveland and organiser of the Redcar Half Marathon said:
“Mark’s story is an inspiration to everyone. So many people who take part in our half-marathon are doing it for heart-warming reasons. I’d like to wish Mark the best of luck with his training and in the race, and I hope lots of people come forward to sponsor him in his bid to support such a worthwhile cause.”
Mark is also hoping local people will give him their support while he’s training. He said...
“If you’re driving along Acklam, Marton and Ormesby Roads and you see me running, please give me a honk of encouragement!” he said.
The 2010 Start Fitness Redcar Half Marathon is supported by Redcar & Cleveland Council and the Local Enterprise Growth Initiative (LEGI) with sponsorship from TFM Radio and Magic 1170 and Hatton Traffic.
To enter the Start Fitness Redcar Half Marathon visit www.runteesvalley.co.uk to enter your entry online.
Helen leaves her couch behind at super-speed!
26 January 2010
Competitor Helen Donnison is hoping to be quick off the mark at this year’s Redcar Half Marathon – and she’s already showing her turn of speed by being the first person to enter!
Helen, 45, from Marske-by-the-Sea, hasn’t done any running since she was at school, and plans to tackle the summer event with her friend Marie Leadbeater.
And by being so quick with her entry, she has qualified for an early-bird discount - online entries submitted by 28 February pay a lower entry fee.
Helen was inspired to enter the half marathon – being held on SUNDAY 13 June this year instead of April, as in previous years – when she heard Paralympic star and gold medallist Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson on the radio urging people to take part and get fit.
“I just thought to myself – I could do that!” she said. It’s her aim to get fit and healthy by preparing for the event, and she will also be raising funds for the local Jessica Jewel Trust charity. Helen works in the Quality Department of Avanta Enterprise, based in Stockton, and has two sons aged 18 and 11.
“I’m probably the biggest couch potato going and I’ve even had to go out and buy a pair of trainers,” she said. “Some people are laughing about this and that just makes me all the more determined to do it!”
The half marathon is a fast, flat, all tarmac course and the route takes in they breathtaking coastline of Redcar.
Thanks to the backing of specialist sports company Start Fitness, this year’s entrants will receive an exclusive high-performance T-shirt and a high-quality messenger bag, plus vouchers to spend at Tees Valley Leisure centres. Prize money of more than £5,000 will be up for grabs to attract elite athletes and to encourage record- breaking finish times.
The event is supported by Redcar & Cleveland Council and the Local Enterprise Growth Initiative (LEGI) with sponsorship from TFM Radio and Magic 1170 and Hatton Traffic.
Race organiser Paddy Corcoran, head of Tees Valley Leisure which runs the local authority leisure centres in Redcar & Cleveland, said: “We’re expecting even more entrants than the 1600 we had last year, but just to encourage people to sign up, we’ve launched an online discount for early entries, fixe at last year’s prices.
“So don’t hesitate – get your entry in by Sunday 28 February, and bag your chance to get fit and healthy at a bargain rate!”
You can submit your entry by visiting the Tees Valley leisure website at www.teesvalleyleisure.co.uk, which has a link to Run Tees Valley - the official Redcar Half Marathon website.
Editor’s note: Entry fee: £16 for UK Athletics club runners, £18 for unaffiliated runners. These prices go up to £17.50/£19.50 from 28 February.
Media Enquiries: Sheila Chapman, sheilachapman PR
Tel 07732 827 486 scpr@btopenworld.com or Paddy Corcoran Tel 07973 918429
