More Marathons and More Fund Raising

On Sunday 29th October, 1989, Reg celebrated his 82nd birthday by competing in the annual National Trust Snowdonia Marathon.


Reg and Vic in training for the Wrekin run.

May 19th, 1990 was an important day in Reg’s running career. Reg and his son Vic, ably assisted by Dave Brackpool, who between them had so far raised more than £11,000 for charity, decided to raise a further £2,500 to pay for a computer system for the Royal Hospital’s radiotherapy unit where Vic’s wife Celia had been a patient for 4 years.

The relay took place over 53 miles from Wolverhampton to the top of the Wrekin and back, and was a marvellous achievement.

In the end Reg and Vic raised £7,500 for a computer, printer and software to speed up the processing of patients' data. It had been a great success and a wonderful “thank you” for Celia’s treatment.

In November of that year, Reg’s running partner Madge Sharples won the Contribution to Sport Award at London’s Hilton Hotel.

The award was presented by the Princess of Wales on behalf of Help the Aged.

At the time 74 years old Madge was one of only 74 people to have run all the 10 London Marathons since 1981.


By this time Reg had moved into his retirement home at Beechwood Court, Corfton Drive, Tettenhall. The staff produced this poster to wish him well.

   The presentation of the computer to the
   hospital.
In 1991 Reg thought that he hadn’t had quite enough training to compete in the London Marathon, and so on the same day, Sunday 21st April, he ran a half marathon at Stafford to raise money for Compton Hospice.

As a result Reg and his daughter in law Celia presented a cheque for £427 to the hospice. At the time Celia, a cancer patient, was greatly benefiting from treatment at the hospice’s day centre.

In June Reg ran what was to be his last competitive race, the Shakespeare half marathon at Stratford on Avon. Over the years he had a number of falls whilst running, and sadly collapsed on the finishing line of the half marathon, needing hospital treatment afterwards. As a result of the falls and his injury, Reg wisely decided that it was time to give-up competitive running. Up to this time Reg and his colleagues had raised a staggering £22,000 for charity.

Unfortunately another running accident soon followed. Reg had decided to join his son Vic and other members of the Wolverhampton Road Runners Club in an 84 mile, 80 lap charity relay around West Park to raise money for Compton Hospice, where Vic’s wife Celia was a patient.

Reg went out on a training run for the event, starting at Aldersley playing fields and ending at his home in Tettenhall. As he reached Lower Green, Tettenhall he caught his foot on a kerbstone and fell head first into the road.


Reg and Vic presenting the cheque for £2,534 to Compton Hospice.

He continued running back home with blood pouring from his leg, head and arm. On arrival he was taken to hospital by ambulance. Undaunted he decided that he would still take part in the run.

Sadly Reg’s daughter-in-law Celia died at Compton Hospice a few days before the run, which Reg now rededicated to her memory. The 84 miles were completed in nearly 12 hours, of which Reg himself covered just under 14 miles in a little over 3 hours. The event raised a grand total of £2,534 for the Hospice in Celia's memory. During the run Karl Davies (not a relative of Reg) in company with another Wolverhampton road runner, each completed 52 miles; a mile for every year of Celia’s life.

In November, 1991 Reg received a top national award for his contribution to sport. The certificate from the Help the Aged Golden Awards was for his many achievements since he started running in 1984. At that time he had competed in 10 marathons, 25 half marathons, and more than 40 shorter events.


   
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