A TEAM from Foundation patrons Active are living up to their company’s name as they prepare for the Great North Run – and we’d love you to join them to raise funds for Teesside’s amazing community projects.
Four female members of staff at Active Chartered Financial Planners will head for Tyneside to take on the world’s biggest half-marathon on September 11 – having already hit the heights when conquering England’s second highest mountain, Scafell Pike.
Operations manager Rachel McCulloch says their determination to support some of the most underprivileged children on Teesside is what drives them on as they train three times a week in preparation for what will, for three of the four, be a first organised long-distance run.
Rachel, originally from Fairfield in Stockton but now living in Ingleby Barwick, said: “It really brings it home when we attend Foundation meetings and hear that there are still kids on Teesside who don’t have coats and shoes. As proud Teessiders, we all think Teesside is a brilliant place. Many of the people here don’t have a lot of money but they are always so generous in giving back.”
Rachel will be joined in the run by colleagues, client support officers Karen Knaggs, from Norton, and Laura Richmond, from Middlesbrough, plus independent financial advisor Claire Davison, from Hartlepool.
The four decided to take on the Great North Run after overcoming a climb up Scafell in April when they were joined by fellow Active team members Liza Pontone and Cheyenne Drake, together with friend Leslie Grace.
Having raised a combined £1,300 from the Scafell climb, they will soon be setting up a justgiving page in support of the run.
“We just aim to raise whatever we can,” added Rachel. “We are finding training for the Great North Run a real challenge, and a definite step-up from the Scafell Pike training. Karen did the run many moons ago but it’s something the rest of us have wanted to do but have always shied away from. I think we’re just a bit mad. Three of us are in our 40’s and must be going through a mid-life crisis!”
But there are no signs of them having had enough just yet. There are already plans to take part in next year’s Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge in aid of the Philanthropic Foundation!
- Click here for more details about taking part in the Great North Run for the Philanthropic Foundation http://www.teessidecharity.org.uk/events/event/great-north-run/
