Great North Run 2018

Gemma Curtis, a solicitor in our care team entered the Great North Run 2018 and ran for Emery Johnson Astills’ chosen charity – Bodie Hodges Foundation.

The Great North Run is the biggest half marathon in the world and attracts nearly 60,000 runners each year. The event started at 10.10am with the wheelchair entrants who were followed by the elite women and then the elite men and the masses who started at 10.40am! Newcastle was buzzing for the whole weekend of the Great North Run and there were lots of events taking place. There was so much support from everyone in Newcastle with people lining the streets to offer water and jelly babies to the runners - there are even bands dotted around the route to offer encouragement and entertainment for the runners and spectators.

Bodie Hodges Foundation is the chosen charity of Emery Johnson Astills. It is a Leicester based charity that is raising awareness of organ donation and also supporting grieving families bereaved of a child. Nick Hodges, father of Bodie Hodges, ran the Great North Run and some of you may have seen his interview during the programme on BBC 1. The video for organ donation was also premiered during this time and can be viewed on their social media pages and their website.

Gemma entered the ballot in January 2018 and won her place in February 2018. She has trained at least 3 times a week since February starting at a distance of 5km and increased it slowly to run the full 22km of the Great North Run.

Gemma ran with Luke Boonham, son of Practice Manager, Vicki Boonham. Luke also ran for Bodie Hodges and ran an amazing time raising a lot of money to help the Bodie Hodges Foundation!

Sir Mo Farah completed the Half Marathon in just under an hour this year … Gemma didn’t finish quite as fast but did manage to complete it and stumble over the finish line to collect her medal. Gemma set herself a target of £450 to raise for Bodie Hodges and smashed this! Her page is still open for sponsorship if you wish to sponsor her.

Well done to Gemma and Luke for entering and finishing the race! Everyone at Emery Johnson Astills was supporting you and is proud of you both!