People & Lifestyle report, June 2006
200 PANT ROUND THE PARK
Father's Day fun run raises thousands of £'s for Prostate Research Campaign UK
Retired teacher Lesley Markham and her retired company director husband John put silly pants over their clothes on Father's Day, June 18th to join Prostate Research Campaign's Pants in the Park fun run round Battersea Park.
200 runners at the start. |
The couple had travelled from Meriden in Warwickshire to join up with nine friends and relatives aged between nine and 72, who nicknamed themselves Team Gee Gee's Gee Gees. The team was named to honour their dear friend with the initials GG who was diagnosed with prostate cancer two years ago. "He found the information Prostate Research Campaign UK offered very useful," said Lesley. "He's doing fine now but prostate disease can affect all men of any age, so it's really important that people know about it. Bearing in mind his initials, and that horses (gee gees) run, we thought calling ourselves Gee Gee's Gee Gees very appropriate."
The team were among 200 people who donned silly pants over their clothes on a scorching Sunday morning to walk or run 5kms round Battersea Park to the strains of a steel band, to raise funds for Prostate Research Campaign UK. They were all anxious to raise awareness of all prostate diseases and the vital work of the charity and were cheered on by onlookers, many of whom came along as a result of a publicity on BBC London Radio and a running newscast on LBC 1152 broadcast from 8.15am on the day.
New supporters and veterans alike completed the two lap course round the park, despite temperatures soaring into the 80's in costumes that certainly turned the heads of onlookers.
Rex Willoughby, 62, from Cobham in Surrey led his five-man family Team Willoughby. Rex has not missed a single fund-raising event for the charity in 10 years and has raised in excess of £20,000. He has climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro and Mt. Killabalu as well as completing Hadrian's Wall and Hike for Hope, walking from the Dead Sea to Petra in Jordan earlier this year. And his boots were obviously made for walking. His next project is the West Highland Way walk this coming September.
It was the second time the seven-strong Kenny's Heroes from Battersea, who raised over £200 for the charity, had joined the event. Team leader Ken Mansfield from Battersea explained: "We did it last year. It's really important that people hear about men's diseases like prostate disease. This is a great way to raise awareness."
Mums on the Run, friends, Nicola Tapson, Angela Paul, Jo Brown and her Mum, Bonny Tomkins completed their second 5 kilometres run in six weeks to raise money for Prostate Research Campaign UK. The foursome completed the Race for Life 5kms run just six weeks ago.
As always there were stories of great courage, and of triumph among the runners. Andrew Wakely from Wandsworth was running, despite having cracked two ribs only weeks ago after falling off his bike. His run raised nearly £3,000 for the charity. Another big fund-raiser, Duncan Harman-Wilson, 56, travelled from Croydon to take part and raised over £3,000 for the charity, although he underwent a prostatectomy by Roger's Robot only eight weeks ago. "I am running to raise awareness about prostate disease and because I want to get rid of the taboos," he said. "I was so grateful for the information I received from the charity at the time of my diagnosis. It helped me understand exactly what was happening to me and make informed choices."
Antonia Fryer, 27, from Wandsworth was running because her grandfather has prostate cancer. "I love running 5kms and found the run through Runner's World on the internet," she explained. "I had to do it for my granddad. He's got prostate cancer."
Award for fastest time went to number 82 - James Whitely who completed the course in just 14.02 minutes. Running shoes signed by Darren Campbell went to Robin Wood who won the best male outfit with his impressive 'Superman' get-up. Kath Robertson - number 96 - received the award for the best female pants with her 'baby bottoms up' knickers and six year old Jaye Jones won best child with home made, highly decorative underwear.
Afterwards, Prostate Research Campaign's Chief Executive Officer John Anderson said: "Support for this event went beyond even our expectations and it was a great, fun-day out. Congratulations to everyone who took part. Everyone completed the course despite the heat and the atmosphere was wonderful, so here's to next year."
Report by: Andrea Kon