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Supportive husband of Sue Ryder Care staff member to run this year’s 5km route

18 June 2008

Suffolk man, Justin Panks (33) has signed up to take part in Sue Ryder Care’s Beat the Baton running event on 25 August in Battersea Park.

Justin, who works as a roofer in Weeting, will join countless others in his challenge to ‘Beat the Baton’ and complete a 10km run before the final strains of music are played.

Now in its second year, Beat the Baton made history last year as the first running event set to live classical music in the UK. The Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra (RPCO) has renewed its partnership with Sue Ryder Care, which cares for people living with conditions including Cancer, Multiple Sclerosis, Stroke, and Parkinson’s Disease, and once again will spur on runners, like Justin, to cross the finish line after completing either a 5km or a 10km run.
 
Justin said: “My wife, Jo, works for Sue Ryder Care and encouraged me to take part in this year’s Beat the Baton. I like to run a couple of times a week and usually listen to my iPod to keep me motivated. At Beat the Baton, I’m looking forward to ditching my iPod in favour of listening to the RPCO live!

“My wife and son are going to come with me to Battersea Park to cheer me on. It promises to be a great family day out – and hopefully I can raise as much money as possible for a fantastic charity.”   

Victoria Glover, Head of Events at Sue Ryder Care, said: “Beat the Baton brings something new and different to the running calendar in the capital. As well as offering a fresh challenge to seasoned runners, it is also suitable for people who have never run a step before and are keen to get fit for the summer. 
 
“We had great feedback from the 700 runners who took part in last year’s inaugural event, which raised more than £80,000. The combination of the magnificent sound of the RPCO and the splendor of one of London’s finest parks was a winning combination for runners. This year we want to encourage more people to take part and raise vital funds for the charity. By supporting Sue Ryder Care in this way, local people can help us make a real difference to the lives of the thousands of people we care for each year.”
   
Sue Ryder Care is encouraging all participants to raise as much money as possible through fundraising efforts in the run up to the event - and is on hand to offer advice and support to enable participants to exceed their fundraising targets.

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