THE Deputy Mayor of Bournemouth is in training for next year’s Bournemouth half marathon in support of Dorset cancer patients.
Cllr George Farquhar is set to tackle the 13-mile event, in October next year, to raise money for the Dorset Cancer Care Foundation (DCCF).
George, who is the Labour councillor for Boscombe East and Pokesdown on BCP Council, said he decided to take on the trek after hearing about its work to help families suffering extreme financial hardship alongside a cancer diagnosis.
Seldom seen without his faithful rescue greyhound, Billy, George will be Mayor by the time he laces up his trainers for the event.
“This will be a big challenge for me, but I want to raise awareness and hopefully some money for this great local charity which is doing such valuable work in our communities,” he said.
Having started running properly two years ago, the councillor trained ‘sensibly’ to get himself back to fitness through a couch to 5k programme.
Since then, he has taken part in the popular Bournemouth Park Run almost 40 times.
“This year, I ran the Run Bournemouth Supersonic 10k for Macmillan Cancer Support, which was my most challenging run to date,” he said.
“The half marathon is a whole new level again. But I’ve started training and I’m looking forward to it.
“I will be charting my progress on Facebook and through a JustGiving page and I hope people will encourage me, give some money to support DCCF and maybe even sign up to run in an event for the charity too.”
Eve Went, co-founder of the DCCF, said: “We were honoured when the Deputy Mayor attended our recent annual appreciation evening for our fundraisers.
“Apparently, he was so impressed by what he heard he wanted to help too and before we knew it, he had volunteered to run the half marathon for us. We were obviously thrilled to bits.
“He is such a whirlwind of positive energy, and we can’t wait to follow his progress and hope others will do so too.
“It’s truly wonderful to think that the Mayor of Bournemouth will be running for the DCCF next October and we hope others will follow his lead and run for us too.”
The DCCF will pay the registration of anyone wishing to take part in a Run Bournemouth event, in return for them raising sponsorship for the charity. For more details email Penny at hello@dccf.co.uk.
To read more about the Deputy Mayor’s training progress and to sponsor his run for The Dorset Cancer Care Foundation, visit www.justgiving.com/page/dccf-bournemouth-mayor.
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