Kate’s dad is 25 times a winner

Mar 26 2008 by Jule Wilson, The Journal

A YOUNG woman from Monkseaton is the latest to have put pen to paper in honour of her dad in The Journal’s exclusive Great North Run inspired competition.

Launched earlier this month, The Journal Your Great North Run Award – this year themed One in a Million in recognition of the race’s millionth entrant – aims to mark the contributions made by the people who take part in the event.

Two-times Great North Runner Kate Waters, 28, has nominated her dad Ridley, 63, for inspiring her to cross the finish line herself after a 25-year commitment to the event.

She said: “Dad hasn’t missed a single race since 1982 and I am the youngest of five, all of us having now followed dad’s example.”

Kate raised hundreds in sponsorship for Cancer Research UK by running alongside Mr Waters in the race in celebration of her mum Sue, who has survived a battle with bowel cancer.

Miss Waters said: “I just think that no matter what is going on, that dad never having missed a race is pretty amazing. He still has every T-shirt from every single race and if it wasn’t for my dad I don’t think I would have crossed the finish line.”

Miss Waters, who works for Procter and Gamble in Longbenton, took part in the BUPA Great North Run for the first time in 2006 following her mother’s cancer battle, but found it much harder than she expected. She said: “I thought I’d done enough training and I was confidently planning to run faster than dad. But it was much tougher than I’d imagined. It was definitely dad’s encouragement that kept me going, and I want him to know how much it has meant to me.”

Mr Waters said he was proud to have helped contribute to the success of the race, which was a lot smaller in 1982, having only celebrated its first birthday.

He said: “I enjoy the day, that’s probably why I do it. Kate has been the one to raise all this money and raise awareness of bowel cancer, a recoverable disease, so this is very unexpected.”

If Miss Waters’ testimonial about her dad is good enough, he could be one of three lucky nominees picked to attend the Bupa Great North Run Hall of Fame Charity Dinner at Gateshead’s Hilton Hotel on April 7. Of the three winners, will take home the overall contest prize of The Journal trophy, presented on the night by editor Brian Aitken.