Local charity steals the show at Rome Marathon
Dorset-based charity Round Table Children’s Wish received a hero’s welcome as the best performing charity at this weekend’s Rome Marathon. The annual event, which attracts more than 15,000 runners, took in some of the city’s best sights from the Colosseum, past St Peter’s Basilica and the Trevi Fountain.
Yet just one UK charity was represented en mass.
Organisers were so impressed with the efforts of the children’s wish granting charity, which entered 22 runners for the event and brought a large team of supporters, that they held a special presentation ceremony for them on the main podium.
Julie Atherton, on the Fundraising & Events Team at Round Table Children’s Wish, said: “We were honoured to be invited on to the podium and be presented with trophies for our three fastest runners and an overall trophy for the charity team.”
Davey Jones M. D of D R Jones Construction based in Yeovil was one of the most successful fundraisers – collecting over £4,000 in sponsorship for the charity, and finishing the marathon despite a problem with his Achilles. Davey Jones is one of Yeovil Round Tables biggest supporters and was cheered along the route by local spectators. Mark Porter Operations Director and Tom White, Marketing Manager of D R Jones Construction, helped Davey to the finish line in just over 6 hours. The Yeovil Round Table team alone have raised £10,000 for the charty in this one event.
Among those to issue messages of good luck to the team were charity patron Harry Redknapp and the Tottenham Hotspurs team.
Harry said: “I’m delighted to hear that our charity runners stole the show. All their hard work and training paid off and not only will a great many more wishes now be granted but the charity’s international profile has received a well-deserved boost.”
Among the wishes to be granted by the money are two holidays to Italy – Kirsty Loveland from Bridgend who was diagnosed with cancer as a teenager and is now in remission and 15 year old Abigail Lock from Salisbury who is in remission after a brave battle against leukaemia.
Mike King current Chairman of Yeovil Round Table and M.D of AztecMedia was support crew to capture the event on film throughout the event.
More pictures can be seen on our Table FaceBook Page, If you would like more information visit www.rtcw.org