Charity champion commits to Great North Run for next 3 years

Feb. 4, 2013 - PRLog -- But fitness fanatic, Ian Davison, 37, from Fulwell, who works at the Jennings Ford Direct dealership on Newcastle Road in South Shields, South Tyneside, is not resting on his laurels after committing to take part in the Bupa Great North Run for the next three consecutive years.

By day, Ian works as an assistant parts manager at the Newcastle Road dealership, for more details visit http://www.jenningsforddirect.co.uk, but by night he’s currently undergoing a strict training regime at his local gym in preparation for the Great North Run and many other charity events he and his friends have planned throughout the year, including a coast to coast bike ride from Whitehaven to Sunderland, the Sunderland City 10k run and the Great North 10k run in Gateshead.

This year, Ian will be completing the Bupa Great North Run in memory of a close friend of the family, Liam Gash, who sadly lost his life to Marfan Syndrome at the age of 22 in 2006.  All money raised for this year’s run, which is scheduled to take place on Sunday 15th September 2013, is being donated to the Marfan Trust.

Founded in 1988, the charity funds research into the cause and prevention of Marfan syndrome, a dominantly inherited cardiac disorder which also affects eyes and skeleton.

Having successfully completed the Great North Run on four separate occasions in the past, Ian is feeling confident about participating, he said; “It’s always good fun on the day and at the same time you’re raising money for charity, which is an added bonus.”


Covering 13.1 miles from Newcastle across the Tyne Bridge and onto the picturesque coastal finish in South Shields, the Great North Run is the world's biggest and most iconic half marathons.


In addition to successfully completing the Great North Run on four separate occasions in the past, Ian has also taken part in the Edinburgh Marathon, a sponsored walk from Roker Pier to South Shields Pier and a number of Sunderland Boxing Day dips.

Recalling the very first fundraising event when Ian and his friends took part in a pier to pier walk from Roker to South Shields and which also raised funds for the Marfan Trust, Ian said;

“About 50 people took part in the pier to pier walk and it took us over two hours to finish, but it was all good fun and that’s what spurred me on to do more charity events.”

Other charities who have benefited from Ian’s fundraising in the past, include Diabetes UK and Help for Heroes.

For more details about Marfan Trust, visit http://www.marfantrust.org