T-shirts have been received for the following runners:

10 Club (19years old and under only can qualify for these)

Poppy Goldsmith, Hannah Turney, Cameron Laidlaw

50 Club

Pamela Gold, Lucy Keating, David Anderson, Howard Gold, Chris Hogarth, Graham Tyler, Alan Wallace

These are for the runners who, after completing the qualifying number of runs, had responded to their e-mail from parkrun by Friday 27th April.

If there is a t-shirt for you I hope that you are able to make it to the parkrun tomorrow to collect it.

Any runners who qualified from Saturday 28th April onwards (including Isao and Nathan) will be included in the next despatch which is planned for the second week of June.

Ian

http://edu.surveygizmo.com/s3/724049/Understanding-the-impact-of-parkrun-on-individual-and-societal-functioning

I’m trying to raise funds to improve the parkrun experience for the runners, but  especially for the volunteers who hand out finish tokens to the runners at the end and for the time recorder.

 Now that the event regularly attracts 300+ runners it isn’t easy, because of the wide finish straight, to ensure that tokens are given out to the finishers in strict finish order. It’s also difficult to ensure that only valid runners times are recorded because of the exciting sprint finishes, often involving several runners, that happen every week now.

I’d like to purchase some plastic bases, plastic poles and chains to make a proper finish funnel that only parkrunners would run into and which will narrow to single file by the finish line. It will enable non parkrun runners on the course to bypass the funnel and so avoid times being recorded inadvertently for them.

Newcastle parkrun will always be an event that is free to participants at the “point of delivery” and so charging even a nominal entry fee at the event to raise money for the equipment, as some parkrunners I’ve spoken to have suggested, is not within the spirit of parkrun.

However a facility is available on the parkrun website for donations to be made by credit card to specific events. 15% of the donation is set aside for a new events fund by parkrun HQ but the remainder of all donations would be available to use for Newcastle parkrun. It would be really great if parkrunners could consider making a donation through the website to the Newcastle fund to enable me to purchase the new equipment.

Very best wishes

Ian

Having arrived in the UK with the terrible news, we were contacted by Kerry Marshall on the Friday we arrived from Australia.  Not only with heavy hearts but with a element of jet lag to say the least.

Kerry told us of the run that was being organised due to David having attended on many occasions with his guide and friend Kerry, in what she described as a "great group of people who just love to run"

We travelled up as David's family all 15 of us, we all thought it was only right that we take part and follow in his footsteps even for a few miles.

When we arrived we noticed a large number of runners who had arrived, we were of course running late, but we managed to get there. I like the rest of the family certainly did not have time to train, just find some shoes and of course T-shirts from the blue lamp foundation to run in.

It was so nice to see such a large group of dedicated people as I know David had met lots of them whilst he was trying to get fit and take part in his various runs along his difficult recovery process.

As I said at the start,having been given the chance to address your runners,"David felt free when he ran" and I am just grateful along the way he was supported by many of your runners, as I was on the day.

Having set off at what I thought was a good pace for a none runner and for someone who sits in a Court building all day, I was amazed to see the speed that others were going.  Thankfully, I had kerry to hold me back, otherwise I think I would have been a little further forward.

Joking aside the whole family and I were impressed with the organisation, the ability of the runners and the warmth shown too us on that lovely morning in Newcastle.

I would like to express my thanks to all that took part and allowed us to slow the pack down, and to all those who also encouraged not only me, but the rest of the unfit family a generous applause.

if I could ask you to either pass on my email or maybe post it on your page to pass those thanks on to all your members, I would appreciate that.

A special thank you must of course go to Michele Nicole for capturing my bad side in picture for all time, how overweight that made me look, it has certainly made me consider my fitness regime

To Mr Howard Gold for taking the time out to express his condolences and for shaking my hand, it made my legs seem a lot lighter.

Allen Mullis who finished the last leg with us and encouraged me just at the point where I may have stopped.

Michael Thornton  who I think spoke to me at the end but my lungs were engaged in sucking as much air as they could, so apologises if I made no sense.

Craig Smith who went round twice.  He was kind enough to come and say a few words, I would have needed an ambulance if I went twice round the circuit.

It was lovely to see all walks of life taking part and even talking to each other along the way, what a brilliant community event.

Mr Fred Henderson some what older than me, even took the time to talk and I know he supported David along the way, along with Jeff Henderson who remained silent, but we understand why.

I must also mention a young man who I recall was called Andrew Thornton, what an inspirational young man he was.  He passed me like the wind, and even had time to talk, I know he would often talk to David, David told me.

Andrew keep doing what you do, it's great to see you run free, even if I couldn't keep up with you. I was going to tie your shoes laces up so I could beat you, but you were just to fast for me to catch them.

My last thanks must go to Kerry as she was and remains a great friend, one that I know David had all the trust in the world with, an exceptional woman and not bad at running with a fat lad.

On behalf I'd David his family and  course myself, Thank you for your lovely gesture, I can tell you David was  with me every step of the way.

Keep up your great work and to all those who knew David, please remember him for what he achieved, as you go on to achieve and reach your milestones.  Sue and Ian of course my gratitude is sent your way for thinking about David and for making it happen.

Kind Regards

Darren Rathband

South Australia Police Service
Adelaide