The Gavin Duffy Memorial Run

Tees Barrage, Stockton-on-Tees, Friday, November 29, 2013

Alister Robson

Not really a race, this was a run that showed the very best of the local running community. Gavin Duffy was a very decent local runner for Billingham Marsh House Harriers who tragically was killed whilst on holiday in Dubai. Unfortunately Gavin didn’t have travel insurance and there was quite some doubt as to how he would be able to be returned to the UK. This event came about as a result of this wish to fundraise.

On a very chilly Friday evening at the Tees Barrage and using the parkrun course held there approximately 400 runners each turned up, donated a minimum of £5 and ran in memory of Gavin. Marshals and organisers gave up their time freely as did the first aid team.

As I said above it wasn’t a race and groups of runners shared the narrow course in the best spirit possible. Because it was so chilly I was keen to run hard and hoped it would be a fitting tribute to Gavin, who like many of the runners I didn’t know, to push on and finish strongly which I hope I did. There was no timekeeping or results but that didn’t matter – the important figure was £3840 – the amount raised on the night. Other fundraising meant that over £17,000 was raised in total, and any funds left over were pledged to be split between Gavin’s favourite charities – The Butterwick Hospice, The Jo and Mya Fund, Zoe’s Place baby hospice and Dementia UK.

Afterwards many runners including myself and Nicola and Debbie the other two Striders I spotted crammed into The Talpore which was run HQ and provided the car parking. I’m not sure the pub knew what hit them! The bar was jammed to hear a very emotional club mate of Gavin’s and organiser of the event, Vicky Fawcett hold it together long enough to compere and announce the fundraising total which was presented to Gavin’s parents along with a Billingham Marsh House club vest, personalised with 33.36 which was the time that Gavin ran at the Leeds Abbey Dash 10k only the week before.

All in all simultaneously a sad occasion but also a truly uplifting one.

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