Gotelee team complete Great East Run
Three-and-a-half thousand runners took part in yesterday’s Great East Run – and among those completing the gruelling 13.1-mile course through the streets of Ipswich were five members of the Gotelee team.
Stevan Stratton, Catherine Abbott, Dominique Ward, Olly Ray and Francesca Reason were nursing aching limbs today after managing to finish the annual half marathon, which this year was blessed with blue skies and warm sunshine.
The race began in Russell Road and continued through the town centre, on to Holywells Park, along the Waterfront, out of town towards the Suffolk Food Hall and under the Orwell Bridge, before looping back to finish on the practice pitch at Portman Road.
Francesca was running in aid of the GeeWizz charity, which helps children, young adults and their families living with a disability, and those affected by cancer, particularly Sarcoma.
“It was a pleasure to run for GeeWizz, in particular for Jasmine Moxham who has spastic cerebral palsy and requires weekly physiotherapy to enable her to walk which isn’t funded by the NHS,” said Francesca.
“GeeWizz does an excellent job of supporting families like Jasmine’s and it was lovely that they came out to watch and cheer us on.
“I was so pleased to complete another half marathon in my home town. The atmosphere is always so good in Ipswich and this year with the weather being fantastic, the local spectators really excelled themselves with their encouragement.”
Francesca finished in a time of two hours and 31 minutes. Steven completed the race in one hour, 54 minutes, while Catherine and Dominique were just a minute behind him. Olly finished in two hours and 30 minutes.
They were cheered on by hundreds of spectators who filled the streets of Ipswich to show their support – including plenty of high-fives – for the runners.
This year’s sell-out race was the second Great East Run, attracting a mixture of seasoned club athletes, first-time fun runners and happy fundraisers.
The event is part of Suffolk’s ambition to become England’s most active county.
