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
Dame Tanni urges runners to enter the 2010 Redcar Half Marathon
Embargoed until 11 January 2010
PHOTO OPPORTUNITY: You are invited to send a photographer to the Redcar Leisure Centre, Majuba Road, TS10 5BJ on Monday January 11 at 10.45 for a 11am photocall with Dame Tanni at Coatham Boating lake to launch the 2010 Start Fitness Redcar Half Marathon.
DAME TANNI Grey-Thompson is urging people to enter the 2010 Start Fitness Redcar Half Marathon to get fit in the New Year and raise thousands of pounds for good causes.
This year’s Half Marathon, which has attracted a new sponsor Start Fitness, a North East based sports clothing and footwear retailer, will break with tradition and will take place on Sunday 13 June instead of mid April as in previous years. Organisers believe that the mild weather will encourage even more runners to enter this prestigious sporting event.
Last year, the race attracted over 1600 runners and this year, organisers predict that it will be even bigger and better and will attract a record breaking number of entries.
The 2010 Start Fitness Redcar Half Marathon will be launched at Redcar's most popular attraction - the Coatham Boating Lake which will form part of the scenic 13.1 mile route.
Coathham Boating Lake has undergone an extensive £850,000 refurbishment which has seen the restoration of the historic footbridge, a new feature promenade wall and the introduction of new wildlife habitats.
And Redcar’s premier sporting event, 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 who said:
“One of the most popular New Year resolutions is losing weight and finding more time for fitness. This is a great opportunity to get fit in 2010 - entering the 2010 Start Fitness Redcar Half Marathon will help you stay motivated and will incentivise you to train, lose weight and get fit so its win-win all round.
Race organiser Paddy Corcoran, who is head of Tees Valley Leisure which runs the local authority leisure centres in Redcar & Cleveland said:
“The Redcar Half Marathon is one of the longest-established and most popular in the running calendar and last year attracted over 1600 entries. With support from the Council and our sponsors, this year we hope to attract even more entries.
“It’s a great chance to get fit in the New Year and a great opportunity to raise money for your favourite charity. We are thrilled that once again our local sporting superstar Tanni is supporting the Half Marathon and will be participating in the event.
Councillor Sheelagh Clarke, the Council's Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure and Tourism, said:
"The Council is once again delighted to support this special sporting event and delighted that Coatham Boating Lake, will provide a spectacular backdrop for part of the 13.1 mile route. Runners will enjoy the breathtaking view of the Redcar coastline and this newly restored lake which is Redcar’s pride and joy”
The 2010 Start Fitness Redcar Half Marathon 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.
Thanks to the backing of Start Fitness, a specialist sports company, this year all entrants will receive an exclusive high performance T-shirt and a high quality messenger bag and will receive vouchers to spend at Tees Valley Leisure centres. Prize money in excess of £3000 will be up for grabs to attract elite athletes and to encourage record- breaking finish times.
Martin Scaife from Start Fitness who is a former England and Great Britain athlete commented: “Start Fitness is delighted to sponsor this popular seaside race and we are really looking forward to working in partnership with race organisers Tees Valley Leisure to ensure the Redcar Half Marathon is once again a great success!”
Entry forms for the Redcar half Marathon are now available online from the Tees Valley Leisure website at www.runteesvalley.co.uk
Boxer Paul says passport packs a fitness punch
Champion boxer Paul Truscott is packing extra punch into a new scheme to help encourage local people to get fit and active.
Former Commonwealth featherweight titleholder Paul – from Middlesbrough – will officially launch Tees Valley Leisure’s Passport to Leisure scheme on November 2.
The idea of the scheme, run in partnership with Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council and supported by Sport England, is to encourage people to take up sport and physical activity to help them get fit and active.
Ian Donley, deputy managing director from Tees Valley Leisure Valley said:
“We did a survey, and people told us that the biggest barrier to participation in physical activity was cost. So we decided to launch the ‘Passport to Leisure’ scheme which offers discounts to make our facilities across all five leisure sites available to everyone.”
People applying for a Passport to Leisure membership are awarded discounts ranging from 10 per cent on selected activities to 25 per cent, depending on their status.
Ian said: “We think these discounts are particularly timely in the current economic situation to help people who have been hit by the recession take up sport."
Paul Truscott took part in a photocall to publicise the Passport with Ian Donley, Sheelagh Clarke, cabinet member for Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council and Jo Hand, Relationship Manager (Community Sport) for Sport England.
Paul said: “Taking part in sport and keeping fit not only improves your health, but also gives your quality of life a boost, so I hope as many people as possible in the area will take advantage of the Passport to Life and grab a chance to get fit.”
Sheelagh Clarke also welcomed the scheme. “By introducing the Passport to Leisure, Tees Valley Leisure is helping local people make the most of their local leisure facilities – it’s good news for everyone,” she said.
The Passport to Leisure incentive scheme is available at Eston Sports Academy, Redcar Leisure Centre, Loftus Leisure Centre, Saltburn Leisure Centre and Guisborough swimming pool.
Junior Triathlon is a Record Breaker!
A record breaking number of youngsters from Teesside took part in the region’s biggest junior triathlon event yesterday (24th September).
Building on the success of Corus Kids of Steel 2008, this year’s Teesside event, which was hosted by Saltburn Leisure Centre and run by Tees Valley Leisure – attracted over 650 kids who took part in the UK’s fastest growing sport.
The event was one of four Corus Kids of Steel triathlons taking place in the UK this year which aims to encourage children to experience the sport of triathlon in a fun and safe environment. The event saw kids aged 8-13 take up the challenge of completing a 25m swim, a 1km cycle, and a 400m run. Every child who took part was rewarded with a t-shirt, medal and certificate.
Corus Managing Director, Jon Bolton said: “Corus were delighted to support the triathlon through its corporate partnership with the British Triathlon Federation to help develop athletes from the grassroots level to world champions”.
Tees Valley Leisure Manager, Kov Bahadori commented: “The event was a great success and great fun for all the children who were involved. They really enjoyed the challenge and hopefully Cleveland Triathlon Club, who helped out on the day - will pick up some new recruits in the future.”
British Triathlon Federation Regional Manager Georgie Rutherford said, “It was a fantastic day and all the children, most of whom had not experience a Triathlon event before left with smiling faces. There was a great sense of team spirit amongst the children who encouraged and supported each other throughout the day. In conjunction with our Corporate Partners, Corus, we were delighted to provide a fun, active and enjoyable day that created opportunities for the youngsters achieve their personal triathlon challenges”
“We would like to thank all those who helped to make the event a success including Saltburn Leisure Centre, all the volunteers who helped on the day including Hartlepool Sixth Form and year eleven pupils at Saltburn Learning Campus. Special thanks must also go to the manager and staff at Sainsburys in Saltburn who provided the water and healthy snacks and Click Teesside, Teesside University’s Radio Station for providing the music and entertainment which created a terrific atmosphere on the day!
