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Tommy and Monty are keeping us going now

From the Swindon Advertiser, first published Wednesday 1st Aug 2001.

BOB Hayward and Nick Baldock are running from Land's End to John O'Groats to raise money for a 12-year-old burns victim. Alfred Page ­ known as Podge ­ was badly burned when a bully doused him in petrol and set him on fire. Doctors have predicted it could cost up to £250,000 to make Podge's life comfortable ­ so Bob, 45, a father of four and company director from Greenmeadow, Swindon, and Nick, 45, from Hertfordshire, plan to raise that amount by running the 887-mile jaunt in less than 43 days. Today we continue Bob's diary . . .

We've now succumbed to telling Tommy Cooper jokes and Monty Python sketches to keep our spirits up.

Today is also a sad day as it is the last day our first driver ­ Brian Hislop from Swindon ­ will be with us. Brian has been a tireless member of the team, kicking us out of bed in the morning, keeping us fed and watered, doing the washing, the shopping, and the driving!

On day eight we ran 28.9 miles ­ the longest since we've started. The run before breakfast from Highbridge to Sidcot was agony for me with my achilles nagging away. Yet after fluffy scrambled eggs, prepared by new driver Ian Collins, and some ibuprofen, I was suddenly like a man possessed.

The Mendips rose in front of us offering some contenders for the biggest hill of the road so far. As we journeyed towards the bustling centre of Bristol the air quality dropped dramatically as dust and grit rose in the wake of the heavy volume of traffic. Thanks to a brief encounter with Justin (a solicitor jogging during his lunch break) we found our way through the main centre and back out on the A38 towards Filton in Bristol.

We received an emergency visit from Julie Nichols of Natural Therapy in Swindon, who was able to massage our aching limbs. Now they're feeling almost as good as new!

Donations can be made via the website www.givetheladachance.com or by mail to Give The Lad A Chance, The Bentley Centre, Stratton Road, Swindon SN1 2SH.

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