Orchard Care - Specialist Fostering & Home Care Agency
 
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Finishers medal at the 30th Great North Run
Well, here's the proof! New to Orchard Care are 5 shiny silver medals each proudly announcing that its owner has completed the world largest half marathon!

The day was fantastic, made terrific by the electrifying atmosphere that, as far as we're concerned, is unique to this event. 54,000 people from across the UK and abroad took part and were all buzzing and raring to go at the start line, penned up and chatting away to soothe the nerves building from what was about to be undertaken.

Lining the roads were thousands upon thousands of people handing out everything from orange slices to ice-pops, from biscuits to beer! The supporters were terrific, whether simply appreciating the work of the runners or climbing atop bus-stops with hose-pipes to cool us down. Many of the children along the course were high-fiving runners who had enough energy to do so, or at least those runners who needed distracting from the pain in their legs!

At the finish, our times varied, but not by too much as we each made our steady way to the end. The weather on the day was grey, overcast with a light wind a little drizzle... PERFECT for endurance running so none of us managed to overheat or get overexposed to the sun, while focussing on what needed to be done.

Everyone seems elated with finishing, and in such good time, and are even more happy with the support we've received from our sponsors, raising over £2400 pounds in support of our favourite charity, Whizz-Kidz. Of course there is still time to donate and give to this tremendous group of people at www.justgiving.com/orchardcare.

Thank you all for watching and listening and a HUGE WELL DONE TO OUR FIVE HEROES!!


 
 
Well, we want to keep you posted on our training and the hard work we're putting into raising money for the wonderful causes we are dedicated to supporting.

We've already had two amazing days out - a parachute jump and a large team entry to the Sport Relief Mile. We raised lots of money for Whizz-Kidz and Sport Relief and had a great time doing it. Hopefully we can get a report on the events for you to read and share the day.

But first, I'd like to highlight that we're going to run the Great North Run this year! Phill, Robin, Paul and Marc are already signed up and we have a few more people wondering whether to make the leap. There's murmurs that training has already begun and even the idea that we will start running after work one day per week as a group to make the training a little more interesting! I'm sure the office banter will reflect the fun we're having getting ready for the run. Needless to say, we're all looking forward to it.

So why are we putting ourselves through this? Well, we wanted to do something to support the charity Whizz-Kidz. They are based in London and help young people all over the UK to become more mobile by providing specialist equipment that will improve their quality of life. As an agency that has a specialism in working with disabled young people, we simply found supporting their cause irresistible and are eager to help. Please visit the Whizz-Kidz website and also take a look at the video we've posted below. Its a marvellous little production that shows the fun and vibrance that we'd like to think we reflect and simply adds to the pleasure of working with them whilst powerfully communicating the amazing difference that is made to the lives of young people, by older people as daft as us to simply run 13 miles.

Oh, and you can sponsor us through the just giving link below :o)
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Click to visit Whizz-Kidz website!
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www.justgiving.com/orchardcare