A COUPLE of novice runners have raised nearly £1,000 for the hospice which supported two people close to them.

Tim and Sarah Richardson had done virtually no running when they were challenged to do the Great North Run.

“Unfortunately – or fortunately, depending how you look at it – we both got in,” Tim said.

I’ve been involved in sports but Sarah hasn’t really since she left school so we had to start from scratch. There was a fair bit of walking up the hills on our first runs.”

The couple managed all 13 miles in 2hrs 45mins running all the way and have thanked everyone who helped them to raise around £1,000 for Saint Catherine’s – four times as much as they had hoped.

“What struck me was that people sponsored us because they knew it was a good cause close to home,” Tim said.

“We’re over the moon. We can’t believe how kind people have been.”

The Whitby couple were inspired to help Saint Catherine’s after losing two people close to them who had both had support from the hospice.

Sarah’s Dad, Brian Upton, had hospice care before his death about 15 years ago and more recently they lost their friend, Ian Macdougal from Pickering.

“We visited Ian in the hospice and I’m so glad we did,” Tim said.

“He was a remarkable man and the care he was given was brilliant. "The support from Saint Catherine’s was invaluable and we just wanted to give something back.”

David Marshall, Director of Funding Development, thanked the couple for their fundraising efforts.

“We really appreciate their help,” he added.