QEHB Charity would like to thank everyone who ran the Bupa Great Birmingham Run for the charity, or joined the thousands cheering on the team of QEHB Charity runners.

With 15,000 entrees, around 60,000 spectators lining the streets of the 13.1 mile route and live coverage on Channel 5, Birmingham staged a half marathon to rival the best in the country.

Ethiopian legend Haile Gebrselassie won the event in 1 hour 1 minute, ahead of a pack of world class athletes, elite and charity runners.

The Bupa Great Birmingham Run was particularly memorable for QEHB Charity runner Eddie Taylor as it was his first ever organised event.

Eddie, an NHS senior pensions officer, said: “I had lots of butterflies before I started but I’m so glad I took part and I’m absolutely thrilled with my time of 2 hours 6 minutes. The atmosphere was amazing and the cheers from everyone on the sidelines really helped. I’d like to thank all the charity team for their support at the halfway stage as that gave me the boost I needed.

“It was great to be able to meet the rest of the QEHB Charity runners at the post-race reception organised by the team and have a photo taken with my medal. I had a brilliant day and am proud to be able to support patients with cancer through my fundraising. I can safely say now I’ve got the bug this will be my first run of many!”

Amongst the QEHB Charity runners joining Eddie were QEHB Charity’s chief executive Mike Hammond who said: “Congratulations to everyone who took part and hope you had as much fun as I did! We’ve already raised over £25,000, which will benefit patients treated at the Queen Elizabeth hospitals. Now’s the time to show off your medal and encourage your sponsors to dig deep, give generously and help make a real difference!”

Other runners included siblings Diana, Clarence and Violet Hull (pictured above), brothers Tim and Paul Cox, who ran in memory of their mum Gill, Vinod Malhotra, who is fighting prostate cancer and Debbie Hanley and Scott Brookfield from Birmingham-based Trident Group. The Trident team ran for wounded military patients being cared for at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham.

QEHB Charity figures

• 1 hour 37 minutes: Matthew Brights finishing time, making him the fastest QEHB Charity runner
• £1,447: highest amount raised by an individual fundraiser so far
• 50: cups of tea drunk at the post-race reception for QEHB Charity runners
• 4: large platefuls of biscuits runners ate at the post-race reception

QEHB Charity runners’ finishing times

For more information about how you can support patients being treated at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham please call 0121 371 4852 or visit the QEHB Charity website.