Harrier to run virtual London Marathon in memory of friend
Sunderland Harrier Paul Redman is running the Virtual Virgin Money London Marathon in memory of his fellow clubmate and great friend Len Christopher.
He will be raising money towards Len's chosen charity Coping with Cancer.
The Sunderland Harrier decided to run for the charity after losing his long time training friend before the marathon was due to take place in April.
Len was 73 when he lost his long battle with cancer and was still cheering on his fe l l ow r u n n e r s at th e l a s t cross-country event in March before the pandemic stopped all sporting events in the UK.
A f te r th e d i s ap p o i ntment of the marathon event in London being cancelled twice, Redman, who has a best of 2.46.56 for the marathon from 2010, decided to take part in the virtual event on Sunday, October 4.
Len was persuaded to join Sunderland Harriers by a group of runners training in the Southwick and Fulwell area and continued to train with the same friends for nearly 30 years.
He competed in road and cross-country races and one of his favourites being the Great North Run.
His greatest achievements as a veteran runner was winning the over-55 category in the 2002 London Marathon.
Len was a force on the local scene as he moved through the age groups, winning many
individual and team medals.
He was a most valued club member, always helping others and using his experience to support new members of the club.
Coping with Cancer help support people diagnosed with cancer and any donations are greatly appreciated.
If you would like to help raise money for the charity you can donate to the Run for Len - Just Giving page: h t t p s : / / w w w. j u s t g i v i n g . com/fundraising /run-forlen?newPage=True
*Houghton Harriers have been one of the clubs that have been up and down the M62 a number of times since the easing of Covid-19 restrictions on competition last month to attend the British Milers Club in Stretford, Manchester.
And their journeys have not been in vain as they have performed with distinction. In the final meeting of the season, three of the North East’s leading young athletes clashed in the 1500m A race.
Houghton Harrier Cameron Allan, 20, who in his last competition chopped 18 seconds of his previous fastest time for 1500m, set another PB in the BMC Gold Standard race.
This time he knocked over two seconds off to set a new best of 3.48.02 in finishing fifth in the metric mile.
Just behind him came Wallsend’s Under-20 Sam Charlton in a PB of (3.48.39) in sixth and Morpeth’s Under-20 Rory Leonard was seventh (3.50.65) in a season’s best.
In the B race Houghton’s Henry Johnson had a great victory in shattering his PB by ten seconds in winning in 3.49.72 which places him fourth on the Under-20 UK rankings, one place behind Sam Charlton.
Will Bellamy (Houghton) was ninth in Johnson’s race (3.55.52) and Luke Pickering clocked 1.58.44 for 800m.
It was in 1963 that the British Milers club was formed after criticism of British Milers.