Marathon runners help raise £61,000

28 October 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 on Sunday 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 round us just looked as if we were mad.

“It was very emotional with it being a long time coming and postponed three times. It was a relief to be there and 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.”

Sharon said training around Bromsgrove, with its hills, made the course easier than it would have been otherwise but she had to dig deep for the final four miles of the distance.

“For that part of the route, there are no spectators until about half mile to the end, and you have the wind in your face as you run along the edge of the Mersey. But that last mile was tough, every step I thought of Chris and all those amazing people with MND and every step was for them. I ran with four girls all the way round and for the last half mile we linked hands, held them in the air, listened to the crowd cheering us on and that pushed me. We crossed the finish line together and it was very, very emotional,” she explained.

Among the team was West Midlands Chief Superintendent Kim Madill who lost her cap during the run and had to run back to get it. From outside the Force, Grace Kelly joined the runners as she lost a family member to MND. She has long Covid but still managed to run her first full marathon.

Sally Duff, project manager for Coventry City of Culture, was also getting over Covid and had finally tested negative the day before. Struggling with her chest, she still managed to finish as did Nick Moorehouse who has a knee injury but completed the half despite not training.

Rob Gough, a PC at ECU, ran the full with an injury but had to wear trainers to work for two weeks to relieve the pressure. It worked until the 12th mile so he had to run/walk the rest of it but was determined to finish.

Joining other serving officers in taking part in the event was West Midlands Police Federation workplace representative Rod Rose who said afterwards: I’ve known Sharon and Chris since I started on the old E3 OCU in September 1994. I consider them good friends and when I heard about Chris’ diagnosis and the mention of raising awareness of MND and some fundraising I knew I had to be a part of it.

“The courage and inspiration of Chris and Sharon meant I was never going to miss out on being part of this amazing event even if the date changes meant I had to take my eight-year-old son with me.

“I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of being part of Liverpool 2021, being with colleagues and friends for a great cause and, of course, the half Marathon itself. An amazing day with amazing people, one that I’ll never forget.”

Sharon has admitted fitting in the training in the run up to the event was tough.

“There were times when I really didn’t want to go out and run,” she admitted, “But it’s become my passion. For the time I’m running, I can forget briefly about everything. I had to make sure Chris was OK to leave and when I get back in I’m straight back to Mum, wife, carer... but it really helps mentally.

“My training mates have been fantastic. They’ve been with me from the start. Lucy Brown I’ve known for years as my daughter Katie and her son Harrison were born a week apart. Her husband Michael is a huge support as well and more than happy to help. Sally Duff is an amazing lady, she has three children and still finds time. But most of all, Kristal Taylor has been a rock. I hadn’t met her before this, but Chris knew her. She literally lives round the corner and I’ve found a friend for life. She’s amazing. We’ve done all our training together and she’s a massive support.”

The £60,914.05 raised, boosted by funds raised through a charity song and raffle organised by Inspector Chris Jones, will be split between the Motor Neurone Disease Association (MNDA) and Primrose Hospice in Bromsgrove, both of which have supported the Johnson family.

MNDA helps funds research into the disease as well as helping families who are living with MND to live well.

David Burrell, chief executive officer of Primrose Hospice, where Sharon is an ambassador, said: “The money raised has already supported the hospice to increase services during Covid this includes more nursing staff and increased hours for family support counsellors.

“This investment has meant we can continue to support everyone who needs our services whenever they need them. It has also helped us develop some new services including a 12-week programme for patients in our day therapy unit and some new support groups for people before and after bereavement.”

As for Sharon, she does not see crossing the finish line of the half marathon as the end of her fund-raising.

“Watch this space - I haven’t finished yet,” she said.