Runners ready for marathon effort (From Barry And District News)

Runners ready for marathon effort

2:40pm Thursday 6th August 2009 in News

FIFTEEN runners have signed up to take part in the Cardiff Half Marathon for Barry charity the JAM Fund - and there's still time for budding athletes to join the team!

Each year a group willing runners turn out for the charity, formed in memory of Barry youngster Jaimie Adamson who died of Leukemia in 2004, to take part in the Cardiff showpiece - and so far more than £35,000 has been raised.

The money has enabled the charity to fund a range of projects for terminally ill children and their families, incluing the purchase of a wheelchair friendly minibus and thousands of pounds worth of equipment for the children’s hospital at Cardiff University Hospital.

Jaimie’s father Paul said: "Anyone wanting to take part in the race and raise money for the charity is asked to raise £100 and they can deduct the race cost from that.

"Once runners pledge to run they are given a team vest, sponsor sheets and support on the day – as well as the knowledge that the money raised will make a big difference.

"This really is a local charity without anyone on the payroll, so every single penny makes a difference. It goes towards donations to families who have children with terminal conditions and it goes towards the maintainance of the charity caravan in Tenby, where families with an ill child can go and take a break."

This year the charity has funded dozens of family holidays to the JAM caravan in west Wales, and has even given a £250 cheque to the Woodward family after they were told that their young son Rhys was suffering from a terminal muscle wasting disease.

Paul added: "We saw the family in the paper and offered them a week in the caravan and £250, as it turned out we are now going to work together."

Rhys’ grandmother Linda Woodard, from Amroth Court, Barry Island, said: "It was a kind donation and I think they are going to take him up on the offer of time in the caravan.

"The family are still in shock. The extended family is organising events to fundraise for the Duchenne charity but to have a donation for the familiy themselves is great. People have been really kind."

If you would like to run the Cardiff Half Marathon for the JAM Fund visit www.jamfund.co.uk or call 01446 411646 for a sponsorship pack and vest.