The Great South Run 2009

The BUPA Great South Run again took place in Portsmouth on what turned out to be a lovely sunshiny day albeit a windy one on Sunday 24th October 2008.

This years event attracted a record number of participants, 21,000 this time on it's 21st anniversary and the 20th year it has been held in Portsmouth.

Margaret's friends, Celia and Gordon Russell once again ran the race and again raised money for The Sarah Merritt Foundation.  However though they were joined this year by three members of our family, Sarah's mum Margaret, Sarah's sister-in-law Mandy and Sarah's son Daniel's girlfriend Laura who is the mother of the beautiful Ella, my grandaughter.

Margaret, Mandy and Laura had trained hard for what was a big test for them and we were all pleased to see the girls finish the race at their first attempt and all three had been sponsored individually raising money for the foundation too.

The sun really shone for them that day, the first time it hasn't rained on race day for many years.

 The runners from left to right are Mandy, Laura, Margaret, Celia and Gordon - back row to lend their support was Sarah's brother Mark, step-dad Terence and husband Peter.

They're all winners really