Colleagues ready to run

Workmates are warming up for a series of 10km charity runs.

The six men, who work for Harrier Aluminium, on Brunel Drive, Newark, will start by raising money for the Multiple Sclerosis Society at the Lincoln 10K Road Race on April 7.

The company’s director, Mr Paul Woods, 43, chose to support the society as he has friends affected by the condition.

“Some of us in the office are trying to get a bit fitter and as motivation to do that we have egged each other on to do the 10km run,” he said.

“We would like to do it for alternate charities and we have each picked one of our own to support.

“We are going to enter another two 10km runs each year.

“It is the first time three of us have ever run — we all have varying levels of ability. We are all encouraging each other.”

The team, which also includes Mr Jack Simmons, 22, Mr Jack Watson, 61, Mr Andy Johnson, 33, Mr Pete Steer, 41, and Mr Jeremy Davies, 43, have already raised £160. They are training once or twice a week by going for group runs after work.

Mr Simmons, a fascia designer, said: “We decided we would like to start raising money for local charities and decided to support numerous charities throughout the year.

“The Lincoln 10K is quite a flat race so it is a suitable one to start off with.

“I have done running before. I have done a half-marathon. Jack did a few races a few decades ago but everyone else is relatively new to it.

“It is still a challenge for me despite my experience. I need to train for it.

“We are building it up until race day. A couple of the guys are running five or six kilometres at a time.

“I didn’t know about the Multiple Sclerosis Society before, but the thought of supporting them will spur us on.”

To support the team with a donation go to www.justgiving.com/HarrierHarriers or text HARR96 £ and the amount to 70070.