Redway Runners raise more than £6.5k for The Haemophilia Society as Charity of the Year

Written by Daniel Barnes, August 24, 2017

It was a chance conversation between Mike King and Martin Lawrence chairman of Redway Running Club, a group of which Mike is a member, that led to The Haemophilia Society being nominated as the club’s Charity of the Year 2016-17. During one of their winter runs together, Mike informed Martin of his son Henry’s severe haemophilia IX (also known as Christmas disease) and the ground-breaking treatment that he was about to start. Following major surgery, Henry had been on a drip for 6 months, and was to become one of only three young patients in the world embarking on the same regime.

Following Martin’s prompting, Mike pitched The Haemophilia Society as a nomination for Charity of the Year at the Redway Runners AGM and was thrilled, not to mention amazed when The Haemophilia Society was named the chosen charity. Throughout the year, the Redway Runners rallied together, raising money at the Furzton Relay, a Christmas Raffle, a team Redway Runners football match and a 12 days of Christmas Virtual Challenge, an experience Mike has called both ‘faith-restoring and humbling.’ Not only that, but Mike is able to update running companions on Henry’s treatment and feel supported along the way.

Overall, with some matched funding from Jen Sangster, the final total raised was £6642.99. At their Beat the Barge event, the Redway Runners presented a fittingly giant cheque to our Fundraising Co-ordinator Lorna McKay. We are absolutely in awe, and as a small charity, every penny counts with lobbying, research, campaigning, supporting families affected by bleeding disorders and educating the general public about these rare conditions . So thank you to Mike, Martin and all the community at Redway Runners for all your hard work and support and raising an incredible amount for us!

 

If you would like to nominate The Haemophilia Society as your Charity of the Year, drop us an email at [email protected] and we will be happy to help with fundraising promotion, materials and a kit to get you started with ideas!

Redway Runners are an inclusive running club in Milton Keynes. For more information about Redway Runners, please visit www.redwayrunners.com