Jean’s son Patrick battled to a brilliant personal best time of one hour 54 minutes 36 seconds when fund-raising over £600 for the Aquinoe charity in the Reading half marathon on Sunday.
On a breezy, chilly morning, 40-year-old Patrick, who works in Reading for a legal firm**, who have kindly donated £250, shrugged off old injuries and niggles to make it up a stiff uphill finish to the town’s Madejski football stadium. Once inside he sprinted the final 100 metres to the finishing line.
His time placed him 3,246th in a field of over 12,000, a fantastic result which thrilled his support team — Patrick’s wife Helena, daughter Grace, 13 this coming Thursday, Jean and husband Dave.
They were all there at the seven-mile marker in the town centre and then, courtesy of a shuttle bus service, made it to the stadium just in time to see the big finish.
Patrick says: “It was the toughest run I’ve ever done but well worth it to help Aquinoe in a small way.
“The atmosphere was fantastic and the support inspirational. I may even be tempted to do another half marathon!”
Helena says: “It was great to see Patrick’s face light up when he spotted us spurring him on.
“There was a real buzz amongst the spectators – community spirit at its best.”
Grace says: “It was cool seeing Patty running into the stadium and doing a sprint finish and seeing him at the 7 mile mark and giving him a big high five! I was proud of him.”
Jean says: “It was great to see Patrick enter the stadium and acknowledge his fans in the stands, and what a privilege it was to be part of his cheering support team! I am delighted he has been able to raise so much money for the Aquinoe Learning Centre.”
Dave says: “Such charity events are always so uplifting in a world where negatives often abound and to see Patrick sprinting up the straight after such an heroic effort was a real joy.”
Patrick’s run received even wider recognition later on Magic Radio who were asking listeners that evening to contact them and say what had made them particularly happy and proud that day.
Helena swiftly texted, sharing Patrick’s feat even wider.
Magic!
** Patrick works in the the centre of Reading for Blake Morgan, a leading law firm with six offices in South England and Wales.
The firm offers a match-funding scheme for some charity events involving their employees, up to £250, which has very generously been awarded to Patrick for the Aquinoe Learning Centre.
The trustees are extremely grateful to Blake Morgan.
