Grieving runner ‘is truly our hero’ says friend
He is truly our hero – those are the words of a Sunderland man whose neighbour set out to honour the memory of his mum as the runner comes to terms with the loss of his own mother.
Kind-hearted Paul Harvey offered to run from South Shields Pier to Roker Pier after learning of the death of Mary Storey, who also lived in Amalfi Tower in Lakeside Village.
She died aged 83 on Thursday, April 8, in Sunderland Royal Hospital due to sepsis.
While she had faced poor mobility in her later years, she was still fiercely independent and loved spending her time travelling, playing bingo and completing crosswords and reading.
Her son Alan, 62, who was her carer for the last decade, and her daughter Susan Gauci, 58, have been left devastated.
Their loss follows on from dad Billy, who died 10 years ago at the age of 73, and their sister Elaine Donfancesco, who died in 2001 at the age of 35.
Paul, 52, was then left facing his own grief after his mum Betty, 85, died on
Monday, April 12, also leaving daughters Denise Dixon and Pauline Kirtley, and sons Trevor and Keith.
Paul said: “I think my Mam would be so proud of me.”
Despite losing his mother, Paul was determined to continue with his feat.
He set out from South Shields early on Saturday, to complete the 7.1 mile run in one hour 12 minutes.
Money they have collected in sponsorship is to be split between the British Heart Foundation and Macmillan.
More than £500 has been raised so far.
Alan and Susan, along with friend Alan Procter, helped provide a support crew for him along the way.
Alan said: “He is truly our hero.
"When he said what he wanted to do, I just thought it was unbelievable, it took me by total surprise, saying he wanted to do something for my Mam.
"Then he still said he wanted to do it after losing his own mam.”
Mary’s humanist funeral was held at 12.30pm yesterday, at Sunderland Crematorium, followed by a burial.
Betty’s funeral service will be held tomorrow.