Michael Gowland, accountant and company secretary at Gill & Robinson Ltd, completed his 30th Great North Run on September 19 – this time in aid of The Melrose Centre in Newcastle.
Mr Gowland, who is 52, is one of a group of 124 runners who have completed every Great North Run since the event started in 1981. To mark the occasion, this year the group set off right behind the elite and celebrity runners.
His best time is 1 hour 35 minutes and this year he crossed the finish line in 1 hour 45 – his fastest time in 22 years.
In completing the 13-mile race Mr Gowland raised £1,700 for The Melrose Centre, a special school attend by his son Craig, who has been diagnosed as being on the autistic spectrum.
“The Centre has only been open for a year and I wanted to raise money towards a school bus which would help the staff who work very hard to provide a wide range of experiences for a very special group of students,” said Mr Gowland.
And he plans to keep running, and raising money, well into the future.
“I hope I’ve got a good few runs in me yet and my aim is to go on and complete 50 now,” he said.
