Caring colleague is number one

A friend and colleague will wear the race number of Advertiser sports reporter Warwick Lane as well as his own for the Newark Half-marathon on Sunday.

Paul Zemontas, 52, an Advertiser sales executive, said he knew how much Warwick had been looking forward to taking part in the event and had been training hard for it.

So when he heard the reporter had been admitted to Nottingham City Hospital, after being diagnosed with a recurrence of the leukaemia he fought last year, Paul decided to ask if he could wear Warwick’s number for him.

The organisers agreed and Paul will be wearing his own number, 819, on the front of his vest and Warwick’s number — one — on the back.

"I was gutted when I heard about Warwick. I knew how much running the Newark Half-marathon meant to him," said Paul.

Warwick was running the half-marathon to raise money for the Teenage Cancer Trust, while Paul is running for the Children’s Bereavement Centre, Newark. Both charities will benefit from Paul’s run.

"Paul knew how important running had become to me and how determined I was to get through the half-marathon," said Warwick.

"I know he’s going to do me proud on the day."

It will be Paul’s 16th Newark Half-marathon.

He completed last year’s in a time of 2hrs 25mins and is determined to beat it.

Warwick said he would be thinking about Paul and all the other runners taking part in the half-marathon.

To donate to Paul’s charity go to www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Paul-zemontas3 and for Warwick’s go to www.justgiving.com/warwick-lane