Keith helps runners raise a large sum

Keith Hardwell was among the Tone Zone Runners who presented a cheque for £3,338.70 to Fordwater School in Chichester.

The money was the total from the Arun Leisure Centre-based club’s fundraising in the 
past year.

Among that sum was the £500 sponsorship Keith raised when he finished last May’s Bognor Prom 10k road race in 54 minutes.

As reported, he was in the middle of up to eight chemotherapy sessions for 
non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

Keith, 49, of Mill Park Road, Pagham, said: “I was recently given the all-clear by the fantastic team at the Fernhurst centre at St Richard’s Hospital.

“I am currently on two monthly check-ups, but I am now running regularly again and plan to start racing again in the near future.”

The Runners’ fundraising was also boosted by a £600 windfall from Ewell resident Barbara Hodgson.

She read the Bognor Regis Observer’s article about Keith and wanted to support him.

“Her husband had recently passed away and she kindly asked for donations at the funeral to be made to our charity after being inspired by the Observer story,” said Keith.

He will add a further £200 to the total through his nomination for a local hero award run by Spirit FM.

Keith also praised his fellow runners for the hard work they had put into various fundraising events in the past year.

The cheque was handed over by the president of the Runners, Sue Bickell, to Sue Meekings, the head of Fordwater School.