Fifteen colleagues from the Midlands Co-operative headquarters in Lichfield will be taking part in the Great Birmingham Run on Sunday 20 October, to help support disabled and terminally ill children in their trading area.

Leading the team will be Information Solutions Service Support Manager Cally Mooney. Cally, aged 43, will be tackling the 13.1-mile course around Birmingham city centre in her wheelchair, with her partner on hand to help with any steep hills.

The team will be raising money for Newlife Foundation for Disabled Children, the Midlands Co-operative’s staff-elected charity. Since the partnership was launched in May last year, £226,000 has been raised by Midlands Co-operative colleagues and customers, funding specialist disability equipment for more than 75 children in the Midlands.

Cally, said: “I had an accident when I was 23 which left me in a wheelchair, so the work of Newlife Foundation is close to my heart. Saying that I wanted to take part in the Great Birmingham Run has encouraged other people in my team to sign up as well. We have a couple of keen runners in the group, but for most of us this is something completely new.”

She added: “We have all started training and are working up to the October event. I know I can self-propel for around six miles at the moment so I am working on building up my stamina and fitness ready for the event. However, I think I may be ‘leading’ the team from the rear.”

Each of the competitors is aiming to raise £150 for Newlife Foundation, and the team has a collective Just Giving page. For more details, go to: https://www.justgiving.com/teams/MidlandsISTeam

Pictured: Cally Mooney and some of the Midlands Co-operative Great Birmingham Run team.

Web: https://newlifecharity.co.uk Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/newlifecharity Facebook: https://www. facebook.com/newlifefoundation YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/NewlifeFoundation