Town Hall staff hand out cheques

Rother staff gave up their time to train for and compete in the Hastings Half Marathon.

They had the benefit of a highly-experienced trainer. Chief executive Derek Stevens enjoyed a long and successful career as a runner and was present when members of the ten-strong team took a deserved photo-call on the Town Hall steps with their competitors' medals and giant cheques for their chosen charities.

Jane McCulloch (2hrs 34 mins) and Suzanne Grisbrook (2hrs 2mins) slogged round the hilly and gruelling Hastings course to raise 830 for Archie's Fund, set up to help Archie Thompson. Archie, 26 months, has the rare Momo Syndrome which means his body is growing at an abnormal rate.

Archie and his mother, Sarah, were present on Tuesday to receive Jane and Suzanne's cheque.

Sarah said of their effort: "I think it is just fantastic. We are still fund-raising. What they have raised will go towards a special wheelchair we need for Archie. It costs 1,500 but it is one that he can sleep in because he has trouble with his breathing if he lies down.

"We saw the chair last week and he tried it and was able to sleep in it."

Scott Lavocah raised 31 for St Michael's Hospice. Alan Wadey raised 200 for the Brain Research Trust.

Sandra Smith raised 241 for Cancer Research; Kim West and Maria Towell, 436.02 for St Michael's Hospice and Andrea Ingram also completed the course. Town Hall girls won the event's all-female team trophy.

Rother leader Cllr Graham Gubby said of the staff effort: "It is really good. It is yet another example of the often-not-seen members of the council staff who are very involved with community projects but who don't get the recognition they deserve.

"They are working hard for the people of the area and for their respective charities and when the opportunity arises they are prepared to put themselves out to be helpful members of the community."