The ‘Running Bride’ raises over £700 for NHS

Photo by Ben McIntyre

Southwater’s very own Anna Davey completed an incredible Bride Run around the village to raise funds for the Association of NHS Charities.

Anna should have been running the London Marathon this week, but instead took part in the national “26.2 Challenge”, running the full marathon distance over the course of the week. For the final leg, Anna decided to think outside of the box with regard to running attire. Many different fancy dress outfits were considered, but it was Anna’s sister who suggested the Wedding Dress. Anna’s sister Chloe is a Paediatric Nurse for the NHS, which added extra family motivation to complete the fundraising run.

Anna noted the route as;

“From Woodhatch I will go north on Timber Mill.
Turn left at Cedar Drive
Right onto Worthing Road
North past Roundstone Caravan Park
Onto Blakes Farm Road all the way down, cut over to Southwater Street.
Down Warren drive
Onto Larkspur Way onto Castlewood
Turn left and round Cedar Drive to the Butterfly Garden through to Bamborough Close.
Left onto Cedar Drive
Around York Close and back onto Cedar Drive
Down Cripplegate Lane
Around Great Lime Kilns
Back out to Cripplegate Lane all the way up Turn left onto Roman Lane
Cross over to the beginning of Mulberry Fields (not on map)
Turn left down Mill Straight
Left into Andrews Road
Right past Foxfield Cottages
Right into Shipley Road
Up to Worthing Road
Turn left onto College Road
Left into Woodlands Way, follow the road round.
Left down College Road
Right at Church Lane
Through Lintot Square
through the Southwater Infant Academy footpath
Onto Timber Mill
Finish at entrance to Woodhatch”

Incredibly, Anna was able to record a Personal Best time of 51:47 for the 10k. Despite the mobility limitations of dress, the avid runner said that she “was inspired by the people of Southwater” who came out of their houses to cheer her on as she passed. At time of publishing, the Running Bride has raised an astonishing £745 via her JustGiving page, which can be found here.

Up next in the calendar is a full marathon later in the year, which raises the question; will the wedding dress make a re-appearance?