A POSTIE from Headless Cross will swap the roads of Redditch for those of the city next week as he switches his envelopes for trainers to compete in the Great Birmingham Run in aid of the John Bonham Memorial Fund.
Alan Whiting will tackle the gruelling 13-mile race, formerly known as the Birmingham Half Marathon, next Sunday (October 18).
The 45-year-old postman will be running to help fund raise for a permanent memorial to the legendary Led Zeppelin drummer, who was born and grew up in Redditch.
“I like to help out in the local community where I can,” Alan said.
“And as I live just a few doors from where John was born, I wanted to contribute to the fund-raising effort.”
The father of three is no stranger to the 13.1 mile run and has raised several hundred pounds over previous years for Diabetes UK.
He added: “John’s brother, the late Mick Bonham, was also a keen runner and I’m sure he’d have competed on behalf of the Fund if he was still with us – I’ll be running in memory of both of them.”
Wearing the number 2900, Alan will set off as part of the orange wave at 10.10am from Jennens Road, close to Millennium Point.
He hopes to cross the finishing line, outside Broad Street’s Hyatt Hotel, under 1:42:31 – his personal best.
Visit www.johnbonhammemorialfund.com for more information and https://crowdfunding.justgiving.com/alan-whiting to lend Alan your support.