James to deliver for Rainbows on Great North Run

A retired sheet metal worker from Loughborough is set to take on the Great North Run to raise money to help youngsters with life-limiting conditions.

James Morrison, 65, (pictured) retired from Rolls-Royce nine years ago and now works as a delivery driver for the town’s Outwoods Pharmacy, regularly calling in at Rainbows Hospice for Children and Young People with supplies.

He says the first time he stepped into Rainbows he gained a sense it was a special place: “The moment I walked in I felt it had this lovely atmosphere – and I decided I wanted to do something for this wonderful charity which supports youngsters and their families when they need it most,” he says.

In his spare time James is a veteran long-distance runner, having joined Charnwood Athletics Club after he retired from Rolls-Royce to keep himself fit and “make new friends”. And he never looked back, running major events all over the world, including Beijing, New York, Auckland, Tokyo, Toronto and Athens marathons.

“I absolutely love the challenge of long-distance running and have competed all over the world – and it keeps me fit,” James says. He lays claim to a Personal Best marathon time of three hours, 23 minutes. “But your pace drops as you get older and now it is not about the times, it’s about the taking part,” he says

Now he has signed up to run the world’s greatest half-marathon event to raise money for Rainbows – the Great North Run, which takes place in September.

And he’s been training hard, which can include regular runs over the weekends of between three and four hours – and a series of races.

Already this year he has run the Brighton Marathon in April. In May he took on the Milton Keynes Marathon and he is set to complete the Race to the Stones 100 km Ultra Marathon in July.

But he takes it all in his stride.

“I’ll just keep on running while I can and hope to raise as much money as possible for Rainbows when I take on the Great North Run,” he says. 

If you would like to support James visit  https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/jimmmorrison

And Rainbows still has limited places for anyone wanting to join James and run the famous half-marathon event for Rainbows. 

For further information on taking part the Great North Run for Team Rainbows call Neil Swift 0800 9521133 or email [email protected]

For more details about Rainbows Hospice or if you would like to donate, visit www.rainbows.co.uk/donate