From September 2002 we have trained together and taken part in so many races, from the Leeds half marathon to the Abbey Dash 10k to The Pulse 5k race in Roundhay (in which we won the team prize!). Our friendship (more than energy bars) has kept us going and laughing all the way.
Nearly 18 months after the loss of Jack Good, it seemed the obvious thing to do was to put all our wild ideas and craziness to a GOOD cause. On 31 August 2003 we contacted Leukaemia Research Fund and told them we wanted to raise money so that the Haematology Unit at Leeds General Infirmary, where Jack was treated, would benefit. We told them our idea was to organise a fun run around Pudsey and that all proceeds would be given to Leukaemia Research in memory of Jack Good.

After a visit to London and meeting one of LRF organisers, we had the go ahead, they were thrilled with our ideas and plans to raise money.
We then had to ask for permission from the Pudsey Pacers committee. Although the race would be in association with the club, financially the club would gain nothing, all proceeds would be given to LRF. Thankfully they agreed and have supported us every step of the way.

Because we wanted every penny to go to LRF, we raised the capital needed for the race by selling unwanted goods at 4 car boot sales. We also had raffle tickets printed and sold hundreds for a Christmas hamper. 19 December 2003 saw the Good Gallop Pub Run, in which a group of us ran round 15 pubs in Pudsey begging for money. On 24 January 2004, Ruth and Roni Gordon were married and they asked their guests to make a donation to LRF in lieu of presents.

On 7 March 2004, 236 runners took part in the first ever Good Gallop Fun Run. It was a huge success, with marshals and supporters including Stephanie and Jodie from LRF, over 300 people turned out to support the event. After the presentation with the 10 winners collecting their prizes, an auction and a raffle were held. Nearly 60 prizes were donated and over £450 was raised. To our astonishment The Good Gallop raised over £4000.

On 18 April 04, the four of us ran 26.2 miles in the Flora London marathon. We dressed (or undressed, as the case maybe!) as Calendar Girls. The memories of that day will stay with us forever. From passing the oldest runner in the race, to chatting to Scooby Doo, 118, soldiers, sailors, firemen, policemen, and lots of other men! To getting up on stage at the 25 mile mark and doing a belly dance routine (with the belly dancers) and having our picture taken, then with the roar of the crowds crossing the finish line and receiving our medals.

The next event we held was a 24 hour dartathon on 22 May 04. The Landlord of the Rose & Crown in Armley, Leeds, allowed us the ‘run of the pub’ for 24 hours. 10 members of the pubs darts team continuously threw darts for 24 hours, with a little help from the four of us who managed to cover about 6 hours to allow the guys a bit of a rest! But with coffee, tea, and bacon sandwiches in strong supply, we did it and raised over £700!

On 5 June 2004, the four founders of the Good Gallop made the long journey down to London again, this time to hand over a cheque to the Leukaemia Research Fund for the grand total of £8688.11

In September 2004 we once again, and for the last time, put on our WI calendar girl costumes and ran 13.1 miles with handbags and a collection bucket in the Great North Run.  We were so relieved to see the LRF bus at 10 miles, where we gleefully handed over the bucket (which by this point weighed at least a ton) that we had carried from the start of the race.  In return we were given another empty bucket!  But by the end of the race, with the last 3 miles we managed to fill the bucket again.  It was both a happy and sad occasion as this was the last time the four of us have run together.

There are so many people we need to thank.  Over the last 18 months the support we have received has just been incredible.  From businesses to individuals, people have been so very kind and generous and supportive it has amazed us all.

Very special thanks go to all the members of Pudsey Pacers Running Club, to the darts team at the Rose & Crown pub, to Ruth and Roni Gordon, who made the kindest offer and donated their wedding ‘gifts’ to LRF.  To the team at Leukaemia Research, thank you for your support and belief in our ideas.  Our thanks go to all those who have donated their time and money into this very GOOD cause, without them, none of this would have been possible.

But it didn’t stop there!

On 17 April 2005, Jo once again ran the Flora London Marathon, but this time alone.  Jo completed the 26.2 miles in 4 hours 23 minutes, and raised nearly £500 for Leukaemia Research. 

Then the hard work really started: preparation for the Good Gallop Fun Run 2!

We started the weekend off with The Good Gallop Pub Run on Friday 3 June. Once again we hit the pubs of Pudsey and, with our friends, managed to have a drink in each pub and raise £375.

Sunday 5 June 2005 saw 250 people once again take part in the Good Gallop and, despite the rain, complete our 3-mile course. The positive feedback we received from so many people, made all our hard work so very worthwhile. And with a raffle and the auction that was held after the race and with so much help and support from all the members at Pudsey Pacers Running Club, to our astonishment the Good Gallop Fun Run 2 raised nearly £4500.

Click here to go to the LRF site with a full report of the Good Gallop 2005

And still we kept on going, on 18 September at the 25th Great North Run, Jo, Joy and Mandy completed the half marathon dressed as 2 coppers and a convict! With our ‘swag’ bags (and a trolley this time!) we managed to collect £52.13. With nearly 50,000 runners taking part in this half marathon, the camaraderie was just electric. The police officers and firemen who all happily stood and had their pictures taken with us, just added to the fun of it all.

Finally all the sponsor money had been collected, all the donations had come to an end. So once again Jo and Joy made their way down to London and on Monday 5 December handed over their final cheque for money raised in 2005, an astonishing £4972.39.

Thank You