Free places for Emergency Services at Bespak GEAR

West Norfolk's Fire Service District Manager Tim Edwards will don the Bespak GEAR race number 999 to represent the emergency services and to raise money for a charity that is close to his heart.

Bespak GEAR organisers offered a free place to the 999 emergency services, in recognition of the work they do to support the event.

Cllr Elizabeth Nockolds, Cabinet Member for Culture Heritage and Health, and Alive Leisure board member, said: "The work of the emergency services often goes unnoticed in events such as these, but we rely on their input.  We thought it would be a nice gesture to offer a free place, with the number 999, to those services as a way of really highlighting their involvement.  Tim was the first person to respond and secured the place for the Fire Service.  We hope that people will keep a special look out for him, knowing that when they cheer him on, they are cheering on all the people who work in those blue-light services."

Tim has entered the Bespak GEAR twice before and said that each time he was amazed at how special the event feels for the runners and how much he loved running through closed streets to the sound of the cheering crowd. 

"How could I resist running under the ‘999’ number when offered?" said Tim.  

"It was a great opportunity not only to enter the GEAR event again but also to run in support of the Firefighters' Charity whose aim it is to help members of the fire and rescue community, who put their lives on the line every day to save others, and support their families."

"I know from first hand experience how vital their work is.  Following an accident back in 1997 I accessed the Firefighters' Charity.  They supported my rehabilitation and helped me return to operational duties.  They make a real difference."

Tim was inspired to put himself forward for the challenge having seen the tireless efforts of his firefighter colleagues around the county.  Firefighters from Fakenham rode 400 miles around the county of Norfolk visiting all 42 fire stations.  Before that King’s Lynn’s Blue Watch rode 300 miles from Norfolk to Paris.
 
Tim added: "So I asked myself, how hard can it be to run 10 kilometres? Quite hard really because I am going to make it more of a challenge by running in my firefighting gear which is hot and heavy at the best of times. I hope it will inspire people to support me and my chosen charity.

"Any donation, however small, would be fantastic and gratefully received by the whole firefighting community. I can be sponsored at https://www.justgiving.com/FireTim or by sending a text KLYN99 £2/£5/£10 to 70070."

Tim is hoping that some of his colleagues will join him on the run.

The Bespak Grand East Anglia Run takes place on Sunday, 1 May 2016, with the main 10k race starting at 10.45am in the Tuesday Market Place in King's Lynn, and the mini GEAR fun run starting at 10am. The fast, flat course takes runners on a loop through the town centre, through The Walks and along the waterfront, showcasing some of the town's key heritage and retail areas.

The course is suitable for runners of all abilities, including wheelchair athletes.

The Bespak GEAR is a UKA and BARR Gold-Graded event. The cost of entry is £18 for affiliated runners and £20 for unaffiliated runners. To enter, runners must be aged 15 or over on race day. The Bespak Mini GEAR 1.2m fun run is open to anyone over 6 years of age (under 8s must be accompanied by an adult). The cost of entry for Bespak Mini GEAR is £7.00 for adults, £6.00 for under 16s and £5.00 for under 8s.

There are generous cash prizes for Bespak GEAR category winners and everyone taking part will receive a quality medal and goody bag.

Enter online now at http://www.grandeastangliarun.co.uk .

For help with training for this event, go to our Training and Advice section.

Click here for a training programme to get round.

Click here for a training programme to run under 60 minutes.

Click here for a training programme to run under 50 minutes.

Click here for a training programme to run under 40 minutes.

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