Marathon runners help raise £61,000

5 November 2021

It had been almost two years in the planning, the event had been cancelled three times and there were lingering fears it could be put back again, but a team of determined runners finally managed to take part in the Liverpool Rock and Roll Marathon and Half Marathon and in doing so have helped raise almost £61,000 for a charity fund set up in the name of former West Midlands Assistant Chief Constable Chris Johnson.

Heading up the team was Chris’ wife, Sharon, who had never ran a half marathon before but completed the distance to recognise the daily strength shown by her husband and others who have Motor Neurone Disease.

“We have no idea of the final number of people running as part of our team, but I would say there were at least 250 of us,” says Sharon, “We were all split up in different pens and we also have no idea who ran the fastest but I think at least half were non-runners or first time half or full marathon runners which is just amazing.

“The starting line was just incredible; we were quite far back, all split up but I was with my friends and colleagues and, just before we started, we realised we had hit our fund-raising target – which was £43,660 before the race. We all just erupted, everyone around us just looked as if we were mad.

“It was very emotional with it being a long time coming and it was postponed three times. It was a relief to be there and I really don’t think I thought it would happen until I crossed that start line.

“The atmosphere was electric. I can’t describe it as I’ve never felt anything like it before and I was asked if I was nervous but I wasn’t. I was just so excited - like a kid at Christmas.”