Pirates in the Park

Registration for this year’s Greggs Children’s Cancer Run was officially opened last week when organisers met in the park to launch the event.

For the first time the event will be held in Leeds’ iconic Roundhay Park on Sunday 7th June and Greggs has chosen children’s cancer charity CLIC Sargent to benefit from monies raised from the event. Runners and supporters are being encouraged to take up this year’s theme of ‘Pirates in the Park’ by dressing up as their favourite swashbuckling characters.

Money raised by the event will be donated to CLIC Sargent to help families in Yorkshire whose lives have been turned upside down by childhood cancer – like the Dysons.

Eighteen year old Simon from Castleford was diagnosed with testicular cancer in 2007 and had surgery to remove the tumour. Sadly his cancer returned in February 2008 and Simon had to undergo nine weeks of chemotherapy, with several overnight stays in St James’s University Hospital (Jimmy’s).

Throughout Simon’s treatment he was supported by Sue, a specialist CLIC Sargent Young Person’s Social Worker based at Jimmy’s. She provided him with a £200 care grant from the charity to help with increased travel costs and provided a friendly face to turn to throughout his treatment.

Simon is now back at college training to become a joiner. He has volunteered to help marshal at this year’s Greggs Children’s Cancer Run.

“CLIC Sargent really helped me while I was going through my cancer treatment,” says Simon. “As well as financial and emotional support they helped me get a bit more normality in my life. Sue organised for me to spend a week in Cumbria with other young people going through the same situation. We did loads of outdoor activities like climbing and it was great to have a break away from the hospital."

“By marshalling at this year’s run I can give something back to this fantastic charity and help other young people battling cancer,” adds Simon.

The Greggs Children’s Cancer Run is now in its 27th year, and to date has raised in excess of £3 million for children’s cancer research in the UK.

Bruce Duncan, Financial Controller of Greggs of Yorkshire and chair of the event’s organising committee, says, “We are delighted to be supporting CLIC Sargent with this year’s pirate-themed event. With the local Yorkshire event taking place in Roundhay Park for the first time in its four year history and lots of family entertainment and fairground rides – not forgetting some delicious Greggs confectionery and savoury products on sale from the Pirate Cafe! – I’m sure it will be bigger and better than ever.”

To register for this year’s run participants are asked to fill out an entry form available from branches of Greggs, by calling 0113 218 0227 or visiting www.greggs.co.uk

CLIC Sargent is looking for more volunteers to help out on the day. For more information contact Dee Richardson, Event Fundraising Manager, on 0113 230 7902 or email dee.richardson@clicsargent.org.uk