News

Human chain

05 June 2008

Runners will carry water from Irish to North Sea

FROM oldest to youngest, these runners are on their marks for a relay big challenge. More than 50 members of Birtley Athletics Club are about to set off on a coast-to-coast challenge. And they will be carrying out an unusual task along the way. A makeshift baton full of water from the Irish Sea will be carried by relay teams and poured into the North Sea. The bottle will be filled up by the eldest club member, 65-year-old Ed Lowen of Ouston, County Durham, and poured out by youngest runner eight-year-old Kieran Taylor of Birtley. And in between, the bottle will be carried by club members, running a total of 140 miles from Whitehaven in Cumbria to Roker Beach, Sunderland. In teams of no less than two, they’ll form a chain of 24 legs, varying from two to 11 miles.

It’s all in aid of the Chronicle’s Sunshine Fund, which provides equipment that makes a big improvement to the lives of disabled and seriously ill children in the North East, for which money is not easily available from other sources. The fund is able to provide grants through the fundraising efforts of Chronicle readers and the support of many local businesses. Birtley Athletics Club came up with its unique fundraising idea to celebrate its 21st anniversary. The club, which was founded by just six runners, now boasts 150 members – and between them they’re hoping to raise £1,000.

Coast-to-coast organiser Tom Millmore says he hopes the race will give everybody a chance to join in.
“The route goes through Birtley, where we run at the Lord Lawson of Beamish School,” said Tom, 51, of Annfield Plain, County Durham. “We are going to do laps of the field at the school so the younger ones can join in. “Not everyone can run 10 miles, but everyone can run 100 or 400 metres. Then there will be games at the school.

“We are starting at 8pm tomorrow and running through the night, and we should get there by 1pm on Saturday,” said Tom, who has been involved with the club since it was founded and coaches endurance and middle distance running. “All the athletes will have at least two cyclists with them and a minibus. “They’ll be wearing reflective gear and head lamps. Especially on the west coast, a lot of it will be on roads. “Towards the east coast mainly it will be tracks.”

Former members of the club will be invited back for a party to celebrate the fundraising once all the money is collected in over the next few months.



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