On Sunday 4th October 57 junior athletes from our Club took part in their annual Marathon Challenge Charity event. Three teams made up of athletes from across the junior section took part in a 200m relay race over the full marathon distance of 26.2 miles or 42km or 105 laps of the track or 210 relay legs. The aim was to get as close as possible to either the Men’s Marathon World Record of 2hrs 2mins 57secs or the Women’s World Record of 2hrs 15mins 23secs.
This years’ event was in support of Reverse Rett Charity, a parent run Charity raising funds for research into Rett Syndrome which affects girls at a young age. The event was opened by England Athletics international Jess Hunter who was accompanied on the first leg by 6 girls who suffer from Rett Syndrome. They then handed over to Vale athletes who were split into three teams.
The blue team, made up of older athletes from the junior section, came home in an incredible 2hrs 3mins 57secs, followed home by the red team in 2hrs 29mins 53secs & the yellow team in 2hrs 33mins 06secs. The times of the red and yellow teams were very pleasing as they were made up of U11 athletes with some as young as 8 years old.
This was a great day of fundraising for a very worthy cause. Thanks to Charlotte Collins and Esme’s All Stars for arranging the charity side of things. A big thank you to all the Coaching Staff and helpers who gave up their time to ensure the event ran smoothly and also to our Commentator and DJ for the day Adrian Bone, who did a fantastic job keeping the runners going. Adrian also showed a surprising knowledge of trivia surrounding the Marathon. Thank you to Derek Pelling for photographing the event for us and or parents who cheered and shouted encouraging the children throughout.
£500 has already been collected for the charity and a majority of the children’s sponsorship money is still to come in. If you wish to donate to this event the Club has a Just Giving Page which will remain open for a few weeks after the event – www.justgiving.com/voaac
Link to Reverse Rett News Item