Bolton charity champs in Great Manchester Run (From The Bolton News)

Bolton charity champs in Great Manchester Run

8:38pm Friday 16th May 2008 in

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CHARITY champions from across Bolton are donning their trainers and taking part in Sunday's Great Manchester Run.

Legal eagles, a car dealer and a bank employee will be racing for the National Austic Society, while an entire family will be raising cash for the Bolton Lads and Girls Club.

Barristers, Stuart Duke, aged 40, Andrew Smith, aged 41 and his son, 18-year-old Jonathan, all from Bradshaw, decided to raise money for the charity after Mr Smith's youngest son Oliver, aged six, was diagnosed with the condition.

Mr Duke said: "We have been hard in training for the run and are looking forward to a great day on Sunday."

Mike Bradley, aged 46 from Heaton, is taking part in the race because his eight-year-old daughter, Abigail, has autism.

The car dealer, who is a partner at Apollo Motors in Farnworth, has already raised £1,000.

Richard Lewis, aged 42, from Hollins, who works for the Co-operative Bank, is taking part in the race because he daughter, Niamh, aged five, has an autism spectrum disorder.

He said: "It took several months between Niamh's school recognising she could be on the autistic spectrum and getting a formal diagnosis. During that time the National Autistic Society's website was a great source of help and support."

Tim and Kathryn Taylor and their daughter Abi, from Heaton, will be taking part in the 10 kilometre run to raise money for Bolton Lads and Girls Club, where they are all actively involved.

Mr Taylor, aged 47, has done the run three times, but it is the first time for 17-year-old Abi and Mrs Taylor, aged 45.

James Cooling, aged 16, of Rivington and Blackrod High School is doing the run for the 2nd year in succession.

Last year, at 15, he was one of the youngest in the race and it was his first 10K. He acheived a time of 58 minutess. This year he hopes for 50 minutess or less. He is running for SENSE, the charity for deafblind people.

James is also running the Great North Run (half marathon) in October. He is supporting the Gardener Unit which is the National Adolescent Forensic Unit at Greater Manchester West NHS Mental Health Foundation Trust at that run. James is a member of the Trust and is keen to support young people with mental health problems.

Police are warning there will be road closures from 4.30am and these will be removed as soon as the runners have cleared, which is expected to be around 12.45pm. All roads will be re-opened by 3:45pm.