Sailors Three in fundraising marathon

When Royal Navy Petty Officer Kevin Perrett casually announced his intention to run the South Downs Half Marathon he wasn’t expecting to generate much interest from his two colleagues, AB Tony Gaskins and AB Pardraic Graham. Kevin, an experienced runner, is in charge of the gunnery office at HMS Nelson in Portsmouth and was intrigued when Padraic announced that he was interested in taking part and they should enter a a team to raise funds for the GAIN charity. As with the majority of people until they personally encounter GBS, Kevin and Tony had not heard of the illness but once Padraic explained what it was and how it had affected his father, they immediately agreed to run for the charity. Kevin set up a JustGiving page on the internet and sent off for application forms while Padraic engaged with GAIN HQ in Lincoln to formalise their entry, obtain charity emblazoned running vests, wrist bands and a supply of raffle tickets. The event took place on Saturday 20 June starting and finishing in Queen Elizabeth Country Park near Petersfield in Hampshire. Padraic’s parents, Phil and Janet, drove from their home in County Durham to witness the start and finish. Kevin and Tony’s families were there too and were most interested in hearing first hand from Phil about GBS and its impact, not just on him, but on family members as well. The three runners had noted in advance that the South Downs Half Marathon was to be run over steeply undulating chalk countryside, with deeply rutted uneven paths underfoot, whereas the majority of other similar events usually take place over fairly even and flat ground in and around towns and cities. Knowing this they had trained specifically for what lay ahead.