Go Walkabout Keep Calm and Jog for James!

Two members of the Go Walkabout office staff will be donning their trainers and T-shirts on Sunday 1^st September to compete in the annual Battel Bonfire Boyes 10k road race, which starts in the picturesque Battle High Street (in Sussex) and ends on the historic Abbey Green.  The race takes place every September, this year there is a special £100 cash prize for anyone who pips the impressive course record of 32.50 minutes set in 2011.  You can enter the race or find out more via their website or through social media on Twitter @bbb10k, or on Facebook.

I myself had been in training and planned to join the boys on their run past the historic Battle Abbey and through beautiful Sussex countryside, but an unfortunate training injury has resulted in some impressive bruises and swelling and an enforced decision to pull out of the run.  The hopes of the Go Walkabout office now rest with Mark and Steve, who we have absolute faith in to keep calm and do us proud!

The boys are running in aid of a great cause – James’ Joggers.  James is a local boy who suffered serious and extensive burns in an accident when he was a baby. He received outstanding care and treatment at the St.Andrews Centre,  Broomfield Hospital in Chelmsford, Essex, which has helped enormously in the quality of his life now. It is an internationally renowned burns and plastics centre who provide care for patients throughout the region.  James still goes for check-ups to the centre, but is now a happy and healthy little boy who has a great sense of humour and zest for life.

To thank the hospital for the expertise and care that was shown to their son, and to help people of all ages who suffer burns, James’ parents were keen to raise money for this very worthwhile cause, and decided to form a team of joggers to run the Battle 10k this year.

Many of the team have taken up running for the very first time, in order to be able to make it round the 10k, and have found the pre-race training to be a challenge of blood, sweat and tears – quite literally!

Go Walkabout are proud to support the team, and you can show your support by sponsoring us here, and make all of the hours of training (and visits to the doctors!) worthwhile:

https://www.justgiving.com/DonnaNovis

If you’re competing in the Battle 10k, or watching as a spectator, please look out for James’ Joggers and give them some encouragement as they go.

Post – Race Update

The great news is that all of James’ Joggers finished the Battle 10k safe and well on Sunday.  It was a very warm Autumnal day, with very little shade en-route, so this merely added to the challenge of the hilly 6 mile course.

Nerves were jangling and the heady scent of generously-applied Deep Heat filled the air as the 425 runners and 42 mini-race runners prepared themselves for their big race!

Spectators lined the historic High Street and Abbey Green and cheered on their support for the runners – many raising money for either local or national charities – many (myself included!) were a little shocked by the booming start gun that heralded the start of the race.

The first runner back was the same runner who was leading the chasing pack back down the High Street as they set off, and he was a long way ahead of his peers.  In fact, Josh Guilmant of Brighton Phoenix finished the race in a very impressive 32.47 which set a new course record.

See the full race results here

Mark and Steve were both pleased to post respective times of 59.36 and 52.38.  James’ Mum Angela was a heroine in her own right finishing last, but impressing everyone with her bravery, tenacity and determination to get round the course and raise money for the Hospital who still treat her own son James, and do so much life-saving and improving work with others across the region. Many hearts melted as she made her way down towards the finish line accompanied by other members of the James’ Joggers team, as well as her children – giving her the impetus for the final push to the finish line.

Well done to all who put in the effort and dedication to compete in this year’s memorable and life-changing event.

If you’d like to make a donation and support the work of the Broomfield Hospital please click here.

Gallery of photos.