TV presenter Penny Mallory is in gear for third Bayer Newbury 10K

Penny who became the only female presenter on Channel 4’s Driven magazine show, is swapping steering wheel for running shoes to start the race and support a local charitable cause.

After sounding the klaxon to start the race, Penny will lace up with more than 30 friends and family who are ‘Running for Rob'.

‘Running for Rob’ is for seventeen-year-old Newbury student Rob Lees, who was diagnosed with a rare and malignant tumour and is currently undergoing chemotherapy and radiotherapy at University College Hospital London.  His family and friends – who include Penny Mallory - are working tirelessly to raise money for the Teenage Cancer Trust¹, which provides specialist units, one of which Rob is in, and CLIC Sargent.²

Bayer’s Andrea Postles, who is organising the race in partnership with Newbury Athletic Club, said: “We are so pleased to have Penny here to give the race and this charitable cause a high profile, and we wish Rob and his family all the very best in their quest to raise lots of money.”

The race’s nominated charity is Naomi House children’s hospice and its new unit for young people, jacksplace, however runners are also free to support charities of their own choice.  Naomi House spokesman, Tina Starbuck, has announced that Naomi House will be holding a raffle on race day to win a one night stay for two people with dinner, bed and breakfast at the Ramada Elcot Park, Hungerford, and three months’ membership at its Sebastian Coe leisure club.  She said: “We are delighted to have been nominated as charity of choice for this year’s Bayer Newbury 10K race and would like to thank everyone who will be running in aid of Naomi House and jacksplace.  It is the generosity of local people and companies, like Bayer and Elcot Park Hotel which make it possible for the hospice to continue to support children with life limiting conditions and their families in Newbury and the surrounding areas. We are extremely grateful to all our supporters.’   

Up to 750 places were made available for this event when entries were first opened in March, and all have now been snapped up underlining the incredible enthusiasm for running as a healthy and fun persuit.

 
Andrea added: “We have runners of all ages and from all walks of life, and we’d particularly like to see lots of fancy dress participants and teams, for which there will be category prizes.”

The Bayer Newbury 10K is a multi-terrain race which follows a double loop around Newbury, both north and south of the Kennet and Avon canal, following a mixture of tarmac roads, footpaths and unmade tracks.

Penny Mallory will join the race after the start, and the presentations at the end will be made with the help of deputy Town Mayor of Newbury, Ian Grose.

Contact:
Rachel Owen, Phone: 01635 563410, Fax: 01635 563513
E-mail: rachel.owen.ro@bayer.co.uk    

Andrea Postles, Phone: 01635 563031, Fax: 01635 563513
E-mail: andrea.postles.ap@bayer.co.uk

Note to Editors

Bayer: Science For A Better Life

Bayer is a global enterprise with core competencies in the fields of health care, nutrition and high-tech materials. The company’s products and services are designed to benefit people and improve their quality of life. At the same time Bayer creates value through innovation, growth and high earning power. The Group is committed to the principles of sustainable development and to its role as a socially and ethically responsible corporate citizen. Economy, ecology and social responsibility are corporate policy objectives of equal rank. In fiscal 2009, Bayer employed 108,400 people and had sales of €31.2 billion. Capital expenditures amounted to €1.7 billion, R&D expenses to €2.7 billion. For more information, go to www.bayer.co.uk  For news releases, background material and graphics on Bayer worldwide, go to www.press.bayer.com

Wessex Children’s Hospice Trust, known as Naomi House, provides support to children and young people with life limiting conditions from across central southern England.   The charity offers one-to-one palliative care that includes respite stays, terminal and bereavement care. This support is available 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year.

The services the Trust provides are available to families from two purpose built hospices, Naomi House and jacksplace, situated just north of Winchester in Hampshire.   In addition the community service supports families who need our help during emergency situations.  It costs around £5 million a year to provide these services to the children, young people and families.   With less than 15% of income coming from Government and other statutory bodies, the Trust relies on the generosity of people in the community to continue its work. Their support enables the charity to provide these crucial care services, free of charge, to children and their families.

For more information visit our website www.naomihouse.org.uk or contact Tina Starbuck, Corporate Fundraiser on 01962 843513

References
¹ www.teenagecancertrust.org  and    ²  www.clicsargent.org.uk/home

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