Run goes on after campaigner's death (From Swindon Advertiser)

Run goes on after campaigner's death

2:40pm Tuesday 24th November 2009

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FRIENDS of late cancer sufferer and charity campaigner Shirley Garman said they would miss her presence as they launched an annual charity run she founded.

The third Mad March Hare event will be on Sunday, March 7 2010.

The race raises money for Breakthrough Breast Cancer Wiltshire, the charity that Shirley supported.

Mother-of-two Shirley, of Gorse Hill, lost her 15-year battle with cancer on September 7.

Her dream was to raise £1m for the Breakthrough Breast Cancer Wiltshire group before her death.

Mandy Martin, a member of the Mad March Hare organising team, said: “We will feel her loss, we really will, we’re feeling it already, she was a big part of Breakthrough.”

The Mad March Hare is a 5km and 10km walk or run starting and finishing at Greendown School, in Grange Park, and taking them around Lydiard Park.

The race started in 2008 with 240 runners, but last year had 500 runners who raised £12,000.

This year organisers hope to get 800 entrants.

Mrs Martin said: “It’s for people that maybe haven’t done any races before or want to make the Mad March Hare the first event they have ever done.

“It’s a very serious subject, but at the same time I think everybody especially in this uncertain climate is being bombarded with charities.

“We want to promote a healthy lifestyle, to encourage people of all ages and abilities – we want people to come and enjoy it.”

Shirley was one of the founders of the Mad March Hare, which was set up originally in memory of late breast cancer sufferer Irene Hare, who was part of the Swindon Twin Peaks group.

It grew from a walk organised by Irene’s colleagues at BP Lubricants on Pipers Way.

Mrs Martin said: “We all took part and thought what a nice thing to do.

“We thought maybe we should do something less serious than the half marathon that will encourage anybody to take part.”

Anyone interested in taking part should complete the application form that you can find on the website www.madmarchhare.org and return it to: Mad March Hare, 16 Portmore Close, Sparcells, Swindon SN5 5FB.

For more information about the event, visit the website at www.

madmarchhare.org or contact Helen on 01793 723540 or helen200@btinternet.com.

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