Gosh - where to start! I'm not really the running kind but took to running to occupy my time when I left Kerry and had a 6 month stint on garden leave.

I'm still no big runner but when I resigned it was the week after I had been in Wisconsin with work and as usual on of my most treasured friends, Audra, made time in her schedule to be in Beloit so we could meet up and have a few drinks and a catch up - which was always something I looked forward to since she left us in the UK to continue her sucessful career in Kerry USA.

I told Audra of my thoughts on leaving Kerry and as usual she was supportive "who the hell is going to employ you anyway!" but understanding.

We talked just after I left, and not long after she discovered that she was ill and I followed her progress never thinking for a second that she wouldn't beat it.

2 weeks ago Audra passed on after a resilliant battle leaving her loving Husband, Family and many devoted friends around the world devastated.

Reflecting on Audra's life and the massive positive impact she had on all who were fortunate enough to have known her I was talking to another friend and ex colleague today. We talked about Audra, the good times and how evil Cancer in all it's forms could be and how we should remember her.

Aside from the chance to get together and share our memories of the happy times he said - you know, we should do something that might help others in her memory - a charity run or something. Anyone who knows Paul & myself would know that nothing would give Audra more delight than to see us sweating and grunting our way around a run, stumbling and swearing.

So - to honour the life and joy that is Audra I am running a 10k Great Yorkshire Run on 29th September in Sheffield and hope to raise some money for Cancer Research UK so that others may ultimately benefit from this and so that Audra can look down on me and have that moment as I "run" 10k in her memory and honour.

I hope you can sponsor me as well so that the research into eradicating this evil disease can continue and that in making this small gesture more people can benefit from the friendship and memories I have of Audra.

Thanks

 

Jon