Thank you for visiting my fundraising page.

My name is Val Derbyshire and during 2009 I (somewhat rashly) promised to take part in all of the "Greats" series of events to be held in Britain in support of the Weston Park Hospital Cancer Charity.  It amounted to ten events totalling just under 65 miles.

However, my promise to participate in these events was, in actual fact, much more rash than I could ever have imagined.  On 10th February, one of the races I had pledged to participate in was inexplicably cancelled.  Then on 14th February I learned from the organisers of the Great North Run that I had not been allocated a place in this prestigious event.   I was, as you can imagine, somewhat disillusioned, but I'm not giving up.

Although, unfortunately, it is no longer possible for me to take part in all of the "Greats" series of runs this year, and I, therefore, can no longer claim to be "Running the Greats" in 2009, today sees the launch of the "Weston 100" instead.  For this, I intend to run a distance of just over 100 miles by participating in 15 events.  Although some of these races do form part of the "Greats" series of events, they are in the main part local events and, with this in view, all entry monies are likely to go back into the local community.  They are, incidentally, not nearly so expensive to enter as the "Great" events and I can guarantee that any money I save on entry fees in this regard will be posted onto this site to be of direct benefit to the hospital.  Here's what I'm now planning to do:

The Great Winter Run (5k/3.11 miles) - completed during January 2009

The Dronfield 10k (10k/6.22 miles) - completed during March 2009

Theo's Rother Valley Race (10k/6.22 miles) - completed early April 2009

The Sheffield Half Marathon (13.1 miles) - completed during April 2009

The Great Edinburgh Run (10k/6.22 miles) - completed during May 2009

The Great Manchester Run (10k/6.22 miles) - completed during May 2009

The Lomas Distribution Buxton Half Marathon (13.1 miles) - completed during May 2009

The Golden Gate 10k (10k/6.22 miles) - completed end of May 2009

The Three Lakes Classic (15 miles) - completed during June 2009

The Great Bakewell Pudding Race (6.25 miles) - completed during June 2009 (even won a Bakewell Pudding!)

The Weston Park Run in the Park (6.22 miles) - completed during July 2009

Stoney Middleton Fell Race (5.2 miles) - completed during July 2009

The Great Longstone Fell Race (4.8 miles) - completed during September 2009

The Great Yorkshire Run (10k/6.22 miles) - completed during September 2009

As you can see the challenge has grown somewhat from the original 65 miles  and, in the case of the Fell race, it's going to be a lot harder than just running around a park (which is basically what the Great Winter Run amounted to). 

Please support my fundraising efforts.  Although the events line-up is not as "Great" as it set out to be, my motives for participating in them remain unchanged; i.e. to help to support the hospital by raising funds to support research and improve treatments and care for people living with cancer.  I'm doing this in memory of my Grandfather who died when my father was just 18 and my father-in-law who lost the fight against prostate cancer when my husband was just 21.  (Incidentally, whatever I raise, my employer has promised to match up to a max of £3,000!)

Donating through Justgiving is quick, easy and totally secure. It’s also the most efficient way to sponsor me: The Weston Park Hospital Cancer Appeal gets your money faster and, if you’re a UK taxpayer, Justgiving makes sure 25% in Gift Aid, plus a 3% supplement, are added to your donation.

Thank you for your support.

p.s. If you'd like to hear more about my training/suffering through these events, you can read all about it at: http://runthegreats.blogspot.com (although, obviously, I'm not running the greats anymore...)