Ruby Appeal

It all started in October last year.

Dave Andrews, the man responsible for co-ordinating BBC Radio Leicester's Ruby Rainbow appeal, was coming up with fund-raising ideas when Allen Cook flippantly suggested something: "Why don't I run the Great North Run for the appeal?"

A Rash Decision!

Allen might have expected nothing more to come of it, had Dave not then just emailed the suggestion as fact to the whole news room!

"Well, although it was suggested in jest, I've always wanted to do a marathon or half-marathon and, well, now I have the chance things just snowballed from there".

BBC Leicester's News Editor Lucy Collins offered to train with Allen to keep him company.

When it was revealed that other places on the run were available Lucy foolishly said she would accompany Allen on the run too!

Getting Better All The Time

Despite some early issues Lucy is now settling into the training:

"The last time I had done any running was cross country at school... so the training was a bit of a shock to the system!

"It's getting easier though and now I can run to music with my mp3 player."

Allen is now well into his training routine too, but he's still not overly confident about the massive challenge ahead of them:

"Training - of sorts - started just after Christmas and the distance has steadily been going up, as I pound the streets around Narborough Road. But I've still got some trepidation about the actual race itself - it is one of the toughest out there."

Co-runner Pam Hilliam

The couple will be joined by friend Pam Hilliam on The Great North Run between Newcastle upon Tyne and South Shields on Sunday 30 September this year.

The race itself is regarded as the world's most popular half marathon road running event, and attracts around 50,000 entrants.

Show YOUR Support!

Allen, Lucy and Pam are putting in all the hard work so they now need YOUR help!

You can sponsor the team by adding to BBC Radio Leicester's Ruby Rainbow Appeal online...