Pair pull on running shoes in big dash for charity cash
Jerry Gill and Mark Stillman will be running 25 miles from Twerton Park to Ashton Gate and back next month.
The Bath City FC and Bath City Radio managers are attempting the gruelling task on Sunday January 30 to raise money for JDRF UK, the type 1 diabetes charity, with some proceeds going to the football club’s radio station.
So far they have raised just under £1,750 of the £3,000 target.
Gill’s youngest son, Oscar, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes two years ago when aged 10. He became extremely poorly and was rushed to Birmingham Children’s Hospital.
“Oscar was very lucky he got the specialist treatment that he urgently needed as his little body had gone into DKA, which is lifethreatening,” said Gill. “It was a severe virus that attacked Oscar’s immune system which triggered the type 1 and left him with this awful disease.
“People should never assume if you have diabetes it is because you have eaten too many sweets or you have an unhealthy lifestyle.
“Oscar still has the very balanced diet which he had at the time and is extremely active, enjoying many sports, especially football.
“The more awareness we can put out there the more lives can be saved, and the children can gain the medication they so urgently require.”
He added: “The stigma is part of the daily challenges, but Oscar and everyone around him deal with the highs and lows.
“The support and care from JDRF UK has been nothing short of incredible.
“Please help support myself and Mark on this gruelling challenge, where we are hoping to raise some valuable funds that can be donated to this amazing charity/organisation.”
Initially, the run was due to take place next Monday, but Gill has been sidelined with flu for over a week, which saw him nearly miss Saturday’s defeat to Hungerford, and medical advice recommended he reschedule.
The pair will depart Twerton Park on the rearranged date at 7am and aim to arrive at Ashton Gate by no later than 9am. They will set off on the return journey by 9.30am and should be back in Twerton by midday.
The route will take them through Salford, Keynsham and Brislington before negotiating various streets to the 27,000 all-seater capacity home of Bristol City. All support is welcome on the route.
The two clubs have held a close link over the years, with Bristol City using Bath City to develop young players on loan. Callum Wood and Josh Owers are currently with the Romans from the Robins and the Championship club signed Robbie Cundy from Bath in 2019, with Harvey Wiles-richards following suit a year later.
Gill, 51, is an active runner, having completed the London Marathon twice with a best time of 3:46.30, and the Cheltenham Half Marathon in 2018.
Stillman ran the Bath Half Marathon in 1:39.48 in 2020 and completed the same distance in November 2018 for the club’s radio station, raising just under £1,000.
The club’s PA announcer has covered the route in three separate stages and is approaching the run with excitement rather than trepidation.
“This will be almost double the furthest distance I’ve ever attempted,” said Stillman, 36. “I expect I’ll be sore for a week or so, but it’ll be worth it.
“I’m delighted Jerry’s decided to accompany me. Initially I was intending to complete a fundraising run alone for the radio, as I did three years ago, but decided we can spread the message further with two of us and for a charity close to his heart.
“Our voluntary radio station raised enough to cover us for nearly three years for my last run. I’m hoping we can smash our previous figure.
“We will decide on percentages to each charity/voluntary organisation depending on how much we raise, but JDRF UK will be the main beneficiaries, and rightly so.”
Bath City Radio produces commentaries for every Bath City match home and away via Mixlr and its website – bathcityradio.uk. It is run entirely by volunteers, with Stillman covering the away matches.
If you wish to donate, visit justgiving.com/crowdfunding/bathcityradiorun, or see Gill or Stillman on a matchday. The fundraising page will remain open until the end of January.
For more information about JDRF UK, visit jdrf.org.uk.