TWO REDDITCH men who challenged each other to a 60m dash at a friend’s funeral wake have now raised more than £1,000 for the Alzheimer’s Society.
Stuart Dyson and Craig Blackford were arguing over ‘who was the fastest’ over a few drinks at the wake of Joe Ritchie from Studley when the idea for the race was mooted.
The head-to-head took place on Friday evening at the Abbey Stadium.
Joe passed away from Alzheimer’s and, after the challenge was set, it was decided to use the race for a fundraiser in his memory.
Nicky Dyson contacted the Standard about the challenge on Friday and we put a story about it on our website two hours before the race which was read more than 1,200 times and received 47 reactions on Facebook, along with comments and shares. More than 40 people turned up to cheer on the pair.
Nicky said: “On Friday, Craig said he had hurt his knee and may not be able to take part.
“But we said there would be a £100 forefeit fee for a ‘no show’ and then, when he saw it on the Standard’s website and Facebook page and all the comments, he changed his mind.”
Setting the scene in the build up to the run, Nicky said: “They are both 54 and overweight and were really goading each other about who was the fastest. Everyone was having a good laugh about it.
“It kind of spiralled from there and it is great that what started as a joke is raising funds for such a good cause in Joe’s memory.
“Joe would have found it all hilarious.”
The race itself was a close-run thing but by the end, Craig finished a few yards ahead to take the tape.
Since then, Joe’s daughter Caroline has pledged £500 in match-funding and Nicky’s boss at Waitrose in Stratford has offered to donate cash or a prize for a future fundraising raffle.
The total currently stands at £1,000 with the cash still flowing in.
