A run for the money!

WELL RUN . . . Christopher Brown and his mother, Deborah (front row) handed a cheque over to Lizzie Jones (right) from Cancer Research UK. With them are members of Royton and Shaw Committee for Cancer Research UK, including Christopher’s grandmother, Dorothy Gibbons (centre).

FLEET-of-foot Christopher Brown clocked up £390 for charity when he outran 400 competitors in the Manchester BUPA fun run to finish in second place.

The 11-year-old completed the 2.5km route in eight minutes and 25 seconds, spurred on by the memory of family friend Alison Thorley, who died from cancer last year at the age of 49.

Christopher was pipped at the post for the title in the class for nine to 11-year-olds, but still earned a cup to mark his achievement.

A member of Oldham and Royton Harriers, he is now planning a second fundraising effort, again in memory of Alison, by taking part in the junior class of the Great North Run in Newcastle later in the year. Christopher’s proud mother, Deborah, a former runner herself and who now trains with the harriers, said: “I’m so pleased he did the run in memory of our friend, Alison, and I want to say thank-you to everyone who sponsored him.”

Alison died on February 14, and the money will go to the Royton and Shaw Committee of Cancer Research UK, of which Christopher’s grandmother, Dorothy Gibbons, is a member.

Christopher is a pupil of St Paul’s School, Royton, and his performance in the Manchester BUPA run earned him a place in an invitation-only 600 metre race on Saturday at Manchester’s Sportcity.