Bupa Great South Run Post event

Lashing wind and rain on the south coast didn't stop approximately 80 hardy CLIC Sargent runners taking to the streets of Portsmouth on Sunday 26th October at the Bupa Great South Run.

The grey skies also failed to dampen the spirits of spectators and the charity's runners were cheered on by a crowd of thousands as they tackled the 10-mile seafront route.

Top soap actor Duncan Pow pounded the pavements to cross the line in one hour 16 minutes, raising around £1,300 for CLIC Sargent.  He took part in the event to raise funds for the Charity which helped his family while his young cousin battled cancer.  His cousin was just two years old when he was first diagnosed with cancer in 1993 and was treated at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford.  The family became the first to stay at CLIC Sargent's Homes from Home in Oxford, which offers free self-catering accommodation so families can stay together while child is being treated for cancer away from home. 

Ten years after Duncan's cousin was first diagnosed with cancer it returned and he was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML).  Sadly his cousin died in 2006, aged 14.

The Gidney family from Southsea joined Duncan in running for CLIC Sargent with mum Vikki and dad Paul taking part in Sunday's race and three-year-old Lily and her five-year-old brother Freddie completing the Mini South Run the day before.  The family decided to run for CLIC Sargent as Vikki and Paul's two-year-old nephew Ryan is being supported by the Charity as he battles neuroblastoma.  Ryan was diagnosed in July and it was hearing this devastating news which spurred Vikki to sign up for the run in aid of CLIC Sargent.  Ryan is currently being treated at Bristol Children's Hospital which means lots of travelling for his parents from their home in Exeter. 

The family have been staying at CLIC House, one of the Charity's Homes from Home in Bristol so they can be close to their son while he undergoes treatment.  Sponsorship money is still coming in but so far the Gidneys have raised around £800.  This is enough to pay for a family like Ryan's to stay free of charge at a Home from Home for about a month.

Also crossing the line (and cross-dressing!) were John Cornwall and Andrew McCarthy who took on the 10-mile race dressed as Emily and Florence from top TV hot series Little Britain. Their performance raised around £600 - and a few eyebrows on race day!

In total CLIC Sargent's runners are hoping to raise £30,000 for the Charity.

If you feel inspired to run for CLIC Sargent, please visit our running section of the website.