United for Special Olympics
A team of runners backed by Chesterfield based Whittam Cox Architects, have raised more than £900 in support of the Special Olympics GB Sheffield Games.
Competitors from Sheffield United Football Club, supported by the locally based architecture firm, took on the 2017 Plusnet Yorkshire Half Marathon in Sheffield in aid of the charity.
Physiotherapists, masseurs, video analysts, kit men and accountants from the Club, teamed up with Luke Prest of Whittam Cox (who sponsored the team), as well as Jayne and David Thompson, parents of Special Olympics GB Sheffield’s Alex Thompson, to take on the endurance event.
The Special Olympics GB National Games will be the largest sports event to take place in GB for people with an intellectual (learning) disability and will be taking place in Sheffield in August. United’s Bramall Lane stadium will host the opening ceremony.
Dave McCarthy, Operations Director at Sheffield United, said:-
“We are incredibly proud of the team for taking part in the marathon and raising more than £900 for the Special Olympics GB Sheffield Games.
“Special thanks to Jayne and David Thompson, whose son Alex will be competing in the Special Olympics, and Luke Prest, of Whittam Cox Architects for helping strengthen our team – it was a particularly hot day but everyone gave their best effort to get to the finish line.
“We really want more people to learn about the Special Olympics and we’d like to encourage anyone connected with the Club to support this worthy cause.”
Jayne Thompson, mum to Special Olympics GB athlete Alex Thompson, said:-
“The main reason for us taking part in the marathon was to raise awareness about the charity and the games coming up in August.
“We are really excited that they’re taking place in Sheffield this year and are hoping we can get lots of people to come along to cheer on all the athletes.
“Sheffield United, in particular Dave McCarthy, and Whittam Cox have been absolutely amazing throughout this time and they’ve done brilliant work in raising such a fantastic amount of money!”
Luke Prest, Head of Visualisation at Whittam Cox Architects, said:-
“I am incredibly proud to have been involved in this amazing fundraising effort.
“I’m a huge Blades fan, so the opportunity to run alongside the team, while raising money for a brilliant cause was something I just couldn’t say no to!”
