As part of their support last year of RPMF, the then Mayor & Mayoress of Hertford organised the first Hertford Charity Run over approximately 10 K. one week before the London Marathon, which proved so popular with the runners that they requested it be repeated. Cllrs. Russell and Dr Linda Radford duly obliged and the second Charity Run around Hertford on April 19 2009.

Last year’s blizzard was replaced with sunshine this time round and the number of runners increased from 265 to 365 who finished the course. The first man home was Alex McIntosh (28SM) from Garden City Runners and the first lady who was 7^th overall was Sharon Gannon (45WV) from Ware Joggers. Our congratulations to them both!

Once again the Ron Pickering Memorial Fund benefited from the money raised on the event and Jean was at Castle Hall to receive the cheque for £2,600 from Cllrs Linda and Russell Radford. Thank you to all the runners who contributed towards this donation to charity through their participation in the Hertford Charity Run. We are appreciative of all your efforts on behalf of our talented young athletes, and pleased to know that it was intended to hold the event each year until at least 2012.

An unexpected bonus from the Charity Run was received from Graeme Denison who raised sponsorship for the Fund via the www.justgiving.com website. The £440 donated on his behalf was doubled by the Caledonia Group charity matching scheme, and with £156 Gift Aid meant an extra £1036 was raised for RPMF via this event. Thank you, Graham!

A surprise donation was received from the HERTFORD DISTRICT SCOUTS at the same presentation evening. District Commissioner Trefor Salter presented a cheque for £386.53 to Jean which the Hertford District Scouts had raised through a collection at their Church Parade. In thanking Trefor Salter, Jean commented that this donation held special meaning to her as her late husband, Ron Pickering, had always been proud of the years he spent as a King’s Scout during he 1940’s.