Back on the runway to raise money for CIAS
THE chance to run somewhere that is strictly out of bounds for 364 days of the year proved impossible to resist for more than 300 islanders on Saturday as they took to the airport runway to raise money for Channel Islands Air Search.
Organised by the Guernsey Friends of CIAS, the event was supported by BDO, whose managing director was at the Aero Club signing in the runners from 8.30pm on Saturday ahead of the 10.30 event.
‘We wanted to do something that got lots of people involved that’s got an engagement factor and that’s going to do some good for the community,’ said Richard Searle, who had taken part in the run himself in 2021 and who was previously a member of the CIAS committee.
Among the runners were father and daughter Glenn and Sophie Gallienne, who had both taken part two years’ ago.
‘It’s something different,’ he said.
‘It’s unique to run on the runway and great to raise money for a really good charity.’
Miss Gallienne, 19, had taken part in the Butterfield half-marathon last weekend and said she hoped to do the London marathon.
Each runner received a number and sporting the number 1 was Ryan Le Cheminant, who said he had applied as soon as entries opened. He was with his friend JP Tebble, with whom he had started running after the last airport event. ‘It’s an achievement to get to this,’ he said.
The two had teamed up with runners representing Waitrose Rohais, organised by Kirsty Gauvain. ‘We also have the 30 Thursday running group,’ she said.
Mrs Gauvain was no stranger to the event. ‘I did the very first one and I’ve done every one since.'
Like other runners she commented on the unique nature of the event: ‘Where else could you do this?’
One of the runners was with family members and said the run, which was about 5k, was part of his training towards taking part in a 10k event with Richard Vahey, who is running 161 10ks in as many days in memory of his friend Karl Addis.
‘The runway run is a great event and there’s a great sense of excitement,’ said Deputy Adrian Gabriel, who first took part in the run some four years’ ago.
His partner Sally Diamond said this was her first time at the runway event after taking up running at the start of 2021 by getting involved in athlete Lee Merrien’s couch-to-5k training.
