Caring fundraisers in final preparation for Great North Run challenge
Written by John Williamson on 06/09/2022
Fundraisers say the selfless efforts of Cumbria’s unpaid Carers will inspire them to dig deep when they tackle the gruelling Great North Run this weekend.
The team are taking on the world’s largest half marathon to raise donations for the charity Carer Support South Lakes which supports unpaid Carers.
Cumbrian MP Tim Farron is a member of the team. “I’m really looking forward to it,” he says. “The work of unpaid Carers is so important. They deserve all the support we can give them.”
The MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale is a keen runner but has never done the Great North Run before. “It will be lovely to return to Newcastle for the run. I went to University there and still have a lot of friends in the City.”
51-year-old Alison Magee-Barker is taking on the challenge for the second year in succession. “Each mile I run I will have in mind one of the unpaid Carers that I want to help,” she says. “That will keep me going.
“I’m more nervous this year than I was last year. But I am doing it again as I want to make a positive difference in the lives of unpaid Carers. Training has been tough because of work commitments but I will be race ready! I’d like to raise enough to help and support a young carer to get support like counselling, or assistance with housework so they can enjoy quality time with their loved ones.
Another member of the team is Flookburgh-based painter and decorator Michael Crowe who is 34 and has previously tackled a couple of half marathons. “I want to take the Great North Run challenge for Carer Support because it’s a great local charity that does a wonderful job for unpaid Carers of all ages, says Michael. He’s doing training runs three times a week and has also taken on a “Tough Mudder” obstacle race during his preparation.
The fourth member of the fund-raising team is dad of four Martin Saunders who is doubly determined to tackle the run having had to pull out of last year’s race when he injured himself during training with just two weeks to go.
Martin is a trustee and board member for Carer Support South Lakes.
His youngest daughter has Downs Syndrome and for the last six years the family has been supported by Carer Support South Lakes.
“Supporting CSSL is important to me as I understand the pressures Carers are under,” he says. “To do their best for the people they care for – unpaid Carers need respite, care and people to talk to and share their stories with.”
The chair of Carer Support South Lakes, James Alexander, says: “The charity is going from strength to strength. We now support around 1500 unpaid Carers and that work is only made possible by our enthusiastic and dedicated staff, volunteers and fundraisers. We cannot thank them enough for all their efforts.”
