An eight-strong team of Midlands runners – including some from Birmingham club Birchfield Harriers – are planning to run from the very north of Scotland to the tip of Cornwall, a distance of approximately 940 miles to raise funds for charity.
The team consisting of Windel Simpson, Mike Morley, Jonathan Gibbs, Simon McNamee, Peter Dimbleby, Michael Gibbs, Derek Donaghy and Lee Taylor will run continuously in a relay to raise funds for CURE LEUKAEMIA. Starting at John O’ Groats on May 19th they aim to be at Edgbaston by May 22nd, when they will plan to arrive around teatime at the Warwickshire County Cricket Ground and will then run a lap of the pitch before continuing to Lands End, which they aim to reach on May 24th.
The team will run six-mile legs, day and night to achieve their goal and will be supported by a small back up team of two helpers who will follow with the support vehicle and those very necessary supplies.
To arrange a relay – known as JOGLE – of this magnitude can be a logistical nightmare unless there is detailed planning and also that costing is clearly worked out well in advance. Team Leader Jonathan Gibbs told us; “We have been meeting as a team for the last ten months to thrash out the requirements”, and when asked why they are attempting this super marathon task Jonathan’s reply was;” My nephew Richard Massey died in March Last year from Leukaemia just aged 16 years. Myself, my son Michael who is also running and my brothers Mark and Stuart who are drivers, wanted to do something in Richards memory and to raise much needed funds for Cure Leukaemia.
What do the team think will be the most difficult part of the whole venture? Fighting fatigue and general lack of quality sleep are expected to be the main problems as the team run through Inverness, Fort William, Glasgow, Gretna Green, Penrith, Preston, Wigan, Warrington and Stafford to arrive at Birmingham and then continue via Cheltenham, Bath, Shepton Mallet, Taunton, Tavistock, St Austell and Penzance to reach their destination Lands End. This means that the team must cover 150 miles each day to arrive at the finishing point on schedule, with each runner covering around 25 miles daily.
Asked about the personal support that is needed for such a fantastic team initiative, Jonathan Gibbs said; “We have received great help from my employer Tentec Ltd, who have covered the cost of the camper van support vehicle and some kit and J. Hayward Transport of Walsall will be providing the fuel for the vehicle for the whole trip. Team members and their families have already made considerable personal financial contributions to the effort and will be giving up their own holidays to finalise the trip and to undertake the run of almost one thousand miles. To the question “how is the sponsorship coming in” the response was that it was disappointingly slow at this stage with only £3300 pledged to the cause at present leaving the team with a major effort to persuade members of the public to pledge the remaining £6700 to reach the target figure. One team member said; “The effort needed to reach the target can be a major distraction to the team’s preparation for this enormous effort on behalf of such an important part of community life”.
Members of the public and local and regional business’s who wish to follow this ultra marathon can go to our website www.jogle2010.com where they can follow the teams progress on their blog and can also download a sponsorship form where they wish to make a personal contribution. During the event they will also be able to track the groups progress and view their Van Cam.
The team really do hope that members of the public will give their support and help them to reach their target of £10,000.