Great South Run
09 November 2008
On a wet and windy Sunday, Clifton Diocese student for the priesthood, Matt Anscombe put on his running shoes to run in the Great South Run and raise funds for CAFOD (Catholic Agency for Overseas Development. Matt's sent his account of the run to cliftondiocese.com.
I've enjoyed running for the last six years or so, and it always makes a big difference to have an event to train for and a cause to support. This year was no exception. Once the seed of the idea of running the 10 mile Great South Run for CAFOD was placed in my mind by the ever encouraging and deeply passionate, Tony Vassallo - the CAFOD Manager in the Clifton Diocese - my eyes were fixed on Portsmouth.
CAFOD is a fantastic charity, and the prospect of raising money for its Emergency Response Fund spurred me on. There have been so many humanitarian crises of late causing do much suffering in so many parts of the world. You've seen the pictures - it's heartbreaking. To be able to do something to contribute is the least I could do.
Mixing fundraising with something that I enjoy (most of the time!) is extra special. I don't think we can ever underestimate the terrible plight of so many people in the world. However, we can make a difference by supporting those agencies who work at grass roots level to try and alleviate the pain and the causes of poverty - it's not as futile as we might think.
I've run a few marathons and half-marathons, so the prospect of a 10-miler was not daunting. I'm competitive with myself though, and so I decided that I'd try and beat my personal best on this run. My training wasn't particularly hard - being in a seminary doesn't always help - but I got myself into pretty good shape through running and cycling, including a 10K race in Bexhill-on-Sea. Come the day it was rainy and windy first thing, but things eased up for the race and it was really perfect running conditions - cool and mainly dry. So, I managed to drag my svelte figure (oh to be 21 again!) round in one hour 15 minutes and 59 seconds, knocking 96 seconds off my personal best - very pleased with that! Amazingly I got faster and faster during the race. I thought I passed Paula Radcliffe at one point, but I might have been dreaming!
The most important thing is that I raised around £1000.00 for CAFOD's Emergency Response Fund - so that can't be bad. Many thanks for anyone who supported me and this great cause. The generosity of folk is amazing. A particular thank you to St Mary's, Swindon who donated well over half of the amount.
By the way - give it a go! Why not try and raise a few pounds for CAFOD. There were around fifty runners from CAFOD in this race, four of us from Clifton Diocese. Or what about the London Marathon, or a local 10K race - every penny counts! Get in touch with Tony Vassallo - or perhaps persuade him to enter the London Marathon.
Tony Vassallo, CAFOD's Manager for the Clifton Diocese, said, "By taking part in this run, Matt has shown his compassion for and solidarity with people in desperate need. CAFOD's Emergency Response Fund supports CAFOD's initial response to a disaster, and the emergency which follows - such as an earthquake, flood, cyclone, hurricane, or drought. Also joining Team CAFOD was Bristol CAFOD volunteer Dr Jimmy Doyle who interrupted his research leave and braved the freezing cold, high winds and rain to run for CAFOD in the Great South Run. Jimmy completed the course in one hour and 30 minutes - an excellent time - well done Jimmy. Many thanks to Matt and Jimmy and to all who sponsored their runs so generously. The amounts Matt and Jimmy have raised will help CAFOD to make a difference. As for my running the London Marathon - well I think I'll cheer from the sidelines."
Matt Anscombe
On a wet and windy Sunday, Clifton Diocese student for the priesthood, Matt Anscombe put on his running shoes to run in the Great South Run and raise funds for CAFOD (Catholic Agency for Overseas Development. Matt's sent his account of the run to cliftondiocese.com.
I've enjoyed running for the last six years or so, and it always makes a big difference to have an event to train for and a cause to support. This year was no exception. Once the seed of the idea of running the 10 mile Great South Run for CAFOD was placed in my mind by the ever encouraging and deeply passionate, Tony Vassallo - the CAFOD Manager in the Clifton Diocese - my eyes were fixed on Portsmouth.
CAFOD is a fantastic charity, and the prospect of raising money for its Emergency Response Fund spurred me on. There have been so many humanitarian crises of late causing do much suffering in so many parts of the world. You've seen the pictures - it's heartbreaking. To be able to do something to contribute is the least I could do.
Mixing fundraising with something that I enjoy (most of the time!) is extra special. I don't think we can ever underestimate the terrible plight of so many people in the world. However, we can make a difference by supporting those agencies who work at grass roots level to try and alleviate the pain and the causes of poverty - it's not as futile as we might think.
I've run a few marathons and half-marathons, so the prospect of a 10-miler was not daunting. I'm competitive with myself though, and so I decided that I'd try and beat my personal best on this run. My training wasn't particularly hard - being in a seminary doesn't always help - but I got myself into pretty good shape through running and cycling, including a 10K race in Bexhill-on-Sea. Come the day it was rainy and windy first thing, but things eased up for the race and it was really perfect running conditions - cool and mainly dry. So, I managed to drag my svelte figure (oh to be 21 again!) round in one hour 15 minutes and 59 seconds, knocking 96 seconds off my personal best - very pleased with that! Amazingly I got faster and faster during the race. I thought I passed Paula Radcliffe at one point, but I might have been dreaming!
The most important thing is that I raised around £1000.00 for CAFOD's Emergency Response Fund - so that can't be bad. Many thanks for anyone who supported me and this great cause. The generosity of folk is amazing. A particular thank you to St Mary's, Swindon who donated well over half of the amount.
By the way - give it a go! Why not try and raise a few pounds for CAFOD. There were around fifty runners from CAFOD in this race, four of us from Clifton Diocese. Or what about the London Marathon, or a local 10K race - every penny counts! Get in touch with Tony Vassallo - or perhaps persuade him to enter the London Marathon.
Tony Vassallo, CAFOD's Manager for the Clifton Diocese, said, "By taking part in this run, Matt has shown his compassion for and solidarity with people in desperate need. CAFOD's Emergency Response Fund supports CAFOD's initial response to a disaster, and the emergency which follows - such as an earthquake, flood, cyclone, hurricane, or drought. Also joining Team CAFOD was Bristol CAFOD volunteer Dr Jimmy Doyle who interrupted his research leave and braved the freezing cold, high winds and rain to run for CAFOD in the Great South Run. Jimmy completed the course in one hour and 30 minutes - an excellent time - well done Jimmy. Many thanks to Matt and Jimmy and to all who sponsored their runs so generously. The amounts Matt and Jimmy have raised will help CAFOD to make a difference. As for my running the London Marathon - well I think I'll cheer from the sidelines."
Matt Anscombe
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18 November 2008