Seaham Aspiring Ladies & Vane Tempest Running Club
At Solutions giving back to our local community is a big part of our ethos. Over the past few years we have raised thousands of pounds for our charity partners.
We believe it’s important to try and make a difference, therefore, we are so thrilled to announce that our Senior Business Consultant, Derek Curtis, is working hard with his running group to raise money for a charity close to their hearts.
Solutions for Accounting is no stranger to charity events. In 2017, a group from Solutions took part in the Great Notts Bike Ride to fundraise for our charity of the year, the Nottingham Children’s Hospital.
One hundred runners from Seaham are turning the town orange by running 2,000 miles to raise funds for a North East cancer centre that provided support for two of their own during their breast cancer battles.
Members of Seaham’s two running groups Seaham Aspiring Ladies (SALs) and Vane Tempest Running Club have joined forces to run 2,000 miles collectively across this week and have raised over £2,000 for Maggie’s Newcastle, a charity that is based in the Freeman Hospital and provides free support and advice to those diagnosed with cancer.
The groups have come together for one week only in support of two of their members, Muriel Ayre and Debbie Cooper, who were both diagnosed with breast cancer last year.
Each runner has pledged to run an individual amount of miles across the week, entering them into an online accumulator in the hope of reaching the 2,000 mile target and raising a huge amount of cash in the process.
The runners are donning bespoke orange t-shirts in the charity’s iconic colour and officially started the event on Monday following a creative TikTok viral challenge to The Greatest Showman’s ‘From Now On’.
The running challenge will culminate in a special fancy dress finale event on Saturday 26th June, with runners crossing the finish line at 11am at the Green Drive in Seaham. The event is fully Covid-secure, complying with the most recent government guidance on organised sporting events.
Muriel Ayre
This month marks a year since Muriel Ayre received her breast cancer diagnosis. After a break from running due to the physical effects of her chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment, she has set herself and her group this challenge to remember the occasion.
Muriel, 61, said: “I was diagnosed with breast cancer on 1st June last year. An operation, chemotherapy and radiotherapy followed, which finally finished in January.
“As I left the Freeman Hospital for the final time I froze outside the main entrance, alone with lots of tears, not tears of happiness that treatment had finished but fear, feeling alone and not knowing what to do next.
“I took myself off to the Maggie’s centre across the road and was greeted by their team who sat with me for over an hour listening to my fears. They helped me understand why I was feeling the way I did and that it was normal.
“The centre not only helps cancer patients but also their family and friends. Without their support I think I would have completely gone to pieces. They are an amazing charity who rely on donations to continue the high standard of support they give.
“The effort from both running groups has been amazing, it’s incredible to see so many people out either running or walking in orange. It makes you feel proud to be part of such a great community.
“The pandemic has effected people in so many ways so it’s great to be able to do something like this where you can make your own contribution towards a wider goal while still remaining safe.”
Debbie, who is also from Seaham, is no stranger to fundraising events, having organised a previous running event for Maggie’s for the Seaham Aspiring Ladies, raising thousands in the process following her cancer diagnosis.
Debbie
Debbie, who is also from Seaham, is no stranger to fundraising events, having organised a previous running event for Maggie’s for the Seaham Aspiring Ladies, raising thousands in the process following her cancer diagnosis.
Debbie, 53, said: “I was diagnosed with breast cancer in February last year. I’d gone to the appointment alone and when I got back into the car I felt as though a grenade had been thrown into my life.
“For months after, cancer and the Covid-19 pandemic meant I had no choices over so many parts of my life.
“I learned about Maggie’s from my two friends who were going through treatment with me around the same time and I was in awe of how they managed to keep people strong during the pandemic.
“I rang the bell on 28th April and I am now in a strange place as I have my life back but it’s a very different life. I may need a helping hand to help me get over this and thankfully I’ll know exactly where to find it.”
Karen Verrill centre head at Maggie’s Newcastle said: “We’re so grateful to Muriel, Debbie and all of the runners for their amazing support raising awareness and much needed funds.
“The money raised will help us support people with cancer in the whole of the North East and Cumbia. Our doors are open for walk-in cancer support.
“We’re here for people with cancer, but also family and friends. Just come in or call our team if you’d like to chat.”
The friendly and inclusive running groups, who are the brainchild of fellow Seaham resident Sally Hall, meet on Seaham sea front, with SALs running every Monday and Wednesday evening and the Vane Tempest Running Club meeting every Saturday morning.
The runners have now smashed their £2,000 target and have set a new fundraising goal!
To support Derek and the rest of the runners, we will be helping raise as much money as possible. No matter how small a donation is, every penny matters to help Maggie’s. If you would like to help support Derek and all the other runners from Seaham Aspiring Ladies and Vane Tempest Running Club, then please visit their Just Giving page: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/vtrcsals
For more information about Maggie’s Newcastle visit: www.maggies.org
