Devon Cricket Board - League official tackling Great North Run for charity

League official tackling Great North Run for charity

DEVON Cricket League vice-chairman and fixtures secretary Phil Bees will be on his way to the north-east to compete in the Great North Run on September 7.
Bees, who only took up running in October 2012 at the age of 56, is taking part to raise money for Diabetes UK, after his four year-old granddaughter, Paige, was diagnosed with the condition last year.
Diabetes has become a part of the family’s life. Paige needs to have her blood sugar levels checked at least five times a day and has four insulin injections daily.
Mum Katie and dad Andrew carefully have to monitor what she eats and when she exercises.
Paige loves swimming, but her parents need to ensure her blood sugar levels are up to make sure they do not dip too far during exercise, which would make her very poorly.
Bees (pictured) has previously competed in two half-marathons, with a best time of 1 hour, 49 minutes and 49 seconds in the Plymouth Half-Marathon in April, but has no desire for a personal best in the North-East.
“I just want soak up the atmosphere and enjoy running in the same race as Olympic 5,000 and 10,000-metre champion, Mo Farah, although he may well have finished before I get through the start!” said Bees.
“I have three aims: to finish the race, to finish in less than two hours and - most importantly- to raise as much money as I possibly can to fund research into a cure for diabetes.
“I will also be making a donation to the Plymouth Hospitals department that employs the nurses who provide so much support for diabetes sufferers and their families.
“Paige’s other nanny, Angela, has also done her bit by holding a drop-in coffee morning and afternoon at her house, raising more than £350.”
This year will see the millionth finish in the race, the first time that this will be achieved in the world over the half-marathon distance.
“To say I am pretty excited to be involved in such an iconic event is a bit of an under-statement,” Bees added.
Anyone that would like to sponsor Phil can do so electronically by going to his Just Giving page at www.justgiving.com/Phil-Bees or can make contact with him on either 07425 154289 or at phil.bees@sky.com.

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