Page 13 - WMPF Federation Dec-Jan 2021_Neat

wasn’t. I was just so excited - like a kid at
Christmas.”
Sharon said training around Bromsgrove,
with its hills, made the course easier than it
would have been otherwise but she had to
dig deep for the final four miles of the
distance.
“For that part of the route, there are no
spectators until about half mile to the end,
and you have the wind in your face as you
run along the edge of the Mersey. But that
last mile was tough, every step I thought of
Chris and all those amazing people with
MND and every step was for them. I ran with
four girls all the way round and for the last
half mile we linked hands, held them in the
air, listened to the crowd cheering us on and
that pushed me. We crossed the finish line
together and it was very, very emotional,” she
explained.
Among the team was West Midlands
Chief Superintendent Kim Madill who lost
her cap during the run and had to run back
to get it. From outside the Force, Grace Kelly
joined the runners as she lost a family
member to MND. She has long Covid but still
managed to run her first full marathon.
“ I ran with four girls Sharon Johnson (fourth from the left) and members of the team.

all the way round
literally lives round the corner and I’ve found
diagnosis and the mention of raising
and for the last half awareness of MND and some fundraising I a friend for life. She’s amazing. We’ve done all
our training together and she’s a massive
knew I had to be a part of it.
“The courage and inspiration of Chris and
mile we linked Sharon meant I was never going to miss out support.”
The £60,914.05 raised, boosted by funds

hands, held them in on being part of this amazing event even if raised through a charity song and raffle
the date changes meant I had to take my organised by Inspector Chris Jones, will be
the air, listened to eight-year-old son with me. split between the Motor Neurone Disease
“I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of
the crowd cheering being part of Liverpool 2021, being with Association (MNDA) and Primrose Hospice in
Bromsgrove, both of which have supported
us on and that colleagues and friends for a great cause and, the Johnson family.
of course, the half Marathon itself. An MNDA helps funds research into the
pushed me. amazing day with amazing people, one that disease as well as helping families who are
I’ll never forget.” living with MND to live well.
Sharon has admitted fitting in the David Burrell, chief executive officer of
Sally Duff, project manager for Coventry training in the run up to the event was Primrose Hospice, where Sharon is an
“
City of Culture, was also getting over Covid tough. ambassador, said: “The money raised has
and had finally tested negative the day “There were times when I really didn’t already supported the hospice to increase
before. Struggling with her chest, she still want to go out and run,” she admitted, “But services during Covid and this includes more
managed to finish as did Nick Moorehouse it’s become my passion. For the time I’m nursing staff and increased hours for family
who has a knee injury but completed the half running, I can forget briefly about everything. support counsellors.
despite not training. I had to make sure Chris was OK to leave and “This investment has meant we can
Rob Gough, a PC at ECU, ran the full with when I get back in I’m straight back to Mum, continue to support everyone who needs our
an injury but had to wear trainers to work for wife, carer... but it really helps mentally. services whenever they need them. It has
two weeks to relieve the pressure. It worked “My training mates have been fantastic. also helped us develop some new services
until the 12th mile so he had to run/walk the They’ve been with me from the start. Lucy including a 12-week programme for patients
rest of it but was determined to finish. Brown I’ve known for years as my daughter in our day therapy unit and some new
Joining other serving officers taking part Katie and her son Harrison were born a week support groups for people before and after
in the event was West Midlands Police apart. Her husband Michael is a huge bereavement.”
Federation workplace representative Rod support as well and more than happy to help. As for Sharon, she does not see crossing
Rose who said afterwards: “I’ve known Sally Duff is an amazing lady, she has three the finish line of the half marathon as the
Sharon and Chris since I started on the old E3 children and still finds time. But most of all, end of her fund-raising.
OCU in September 1994. I consider them Kristal Taylor has been a rock. I hadn’t met “Watch this space - I haven’t finished
good friends and when I heard about Chris’ her before this, but Chris knew her. She yet,” she said. Feature continued overleaf

www.polfed.org/westmids federation December 2021/January 2022 13