Singing mum torun Battle 10kfor good cause

Alison decided to take on the run while singing at the same time to raise funds for Brain Tumour Research and the Teenage Cancer Trust.

Explaining her motivation, Alison said: “Very sadly, Nicola, my daughter’s best friend at University, was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour some five years ago; despite radiotherapy and chemotherapy, she died last Summer aged just 25.

“I was shocked to discover that brain tumours kill more children and young people than any other cancer - survival rates are pitifully low, and funding for research is less than many other cancer charities.

“So I decided to do some kind of sponsored event, in order to raise some money, and also to raise awareness of this horrible killer disease.

“I began to train to run the Battle 10K, which is bad enough, as I am far from being young, and far from being an athlete, and then, rather madly, I decided to sing the whole race, just to be different.

Training is particularly hard, as I have to find secluded places to run and sing, and I have already frightened several elderly dog walkers as I ‘race’ by, singing a selection of WW2 songs, songs from the shows and Abba favourites, not to mention 39 verses of Kum Ba Ya!

“I have not yet managed to sing for the full distance, but I am determined that, somehow, I will do it on September 6.”

Alison will be getting a little help on the last leg of the course.

She said: “I am a class teacher at Beckley School and Northiam school, and as I am a musician, I take singing assemblies.

“One day I told the children what I was doing and why and we all had a go singing for a few minutes while jogging on the spot. It was surprisingly popular, and some of the children wanted to run with me on the day.

“I contacted the organisers, who have kindly agreed to adjust the traffic control system so that a group of pupils are able to join me to run and sing the final ‘push’ down Battle High Street as we cross the finishing line together.

We have chosen a song called: ‘Sing a Song in Unison’ which is all about friendship and sharing - it feels very apt - there’ll be about 12 to 15 children singing and running, aged between about 6 and 11.

“I have a Charity website which is http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/Sing10 and with online and offline pledges, I am approaching the £400 mark at the moment, although my aim is to raise £1,000 if possible.”

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