Liveryman Rod Adlington embarked on a 100 mile challenge for Barney's Dash, a fundraising event for Meningitis Now, in memory of his son. With the finish line at the Hall, it was going to be a fantastic end to a tough two weeks...
Barney’s Dash was an event conceived through a joint idea, very much inspired by Mark Jefferies (Meningitis Now), myself and Warden John Alton Jones, Chairman of the Charity & Education Committee. Both Mark and I have lost family members to this awful disease. I lost my 3-year-old son Barney to Meningitis and Mark lost his brother. The name in honour of Barney has evolved from the Barney’s Bash fundraising events that have been held before in memory of Barney Adlington.
The concept of a virtual two-week 100 mile challenge was open to anybody, to run, swim, cycle, row, walk, ride, all in a bid to accumulate as many total miles travelled as possible, culminating in an actual relay from Wallingford in Oxford to Butchers' Hall in the heart of London.
7 people running in pairs, 60 miles in 9 hours, as we raced to a welcome drinks reception with a very definite end time of 3.30pm, post the May Court lunch!
The day of the actual event arrived, we boarded the minibus dressed in our Meningitis Now uniform, with lots of snacks and supplies on board. We left home at 3.30am. Arriving at Wallingford, the full enormity of our challenge sunk in. 60 miles and we must arrive by 3.30pm, not a second later at Butchers’ Hall. Failure not an option.
The Barney’s Dash team each took their turn in pairs to complete the sprint to Ealing Broadway Tube station. Liveryman Gerald Shortland was looking nervous as he took off with Duncan to cover the last 12 miles across London. Elliot picked up the challenge in running with Gerald as they set about the final miles into Smithfield. Traffic was very heavy. The whole gang ran the last mile and a half into Smithfield, meeting Gerald and Elliot just at the final point.
We all arrived at Smithfield 20 minutes early! Decided we couldn’t stand still, so we circumnavigated Smithfield Market twice, before finally running into Butchers’ Hall and to a very cheery welcome from our Meningitis Supporters, The Master and fellow Liverymen.
Thanks to everyone that cheered and donated to Barney’s Dash, which raised £1,110 for our challenge.
LIVERYMAN ROD ADLINGTON