Tuesday 29 March 2022 Gareth Dunn’s amazing fundraising legacy continues this year with GSAL sponsoring the Cookridge Community Run for a third year. The 10K race and fun run will take place on Sunday 22 May in memory of Gareth Dunn (GSAL09), a talented sportsman who spent the last year of his life raising money for Cancer Research UK. A few weeks after being accepted to start officer training at Sandhurst Military Academy, Gareth was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of cancer. A scan revealed he had a large tumour in his foot and he had to have his right leg amputated below the knee. A consistently positive person, he switched his plans to join the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, but tragically, just as he was getting his life back together, he was then diagnosed with a secondary cancer in his lungs. Never one to wallow in self-pity, Gareth embarked on a huge fundraising effort for medical research. He was determined to raise as much money as possible for sarcoma research to help other people in his situation. A determined sportsman, he was accepted to train in five disciplines with the UK Paralympic Team to prepare for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Then in 2018 he ran the London Marathon with a prosthetic running blade. He raised more than £120,000 in one year for Cancer Research UK and his fundraising legacy now stands at an impressive £160,000. He sadly passed away on 29 October 2018 at the age of just 27. His family set up the Cookridge Community Run to raise even more money for Cancer Research UK, along with other local charities. His father Lee Dunn (OL76), one of the race organisers, said: “As a local, community-based event, we look for support from local companies and businesses in order to cover the running costs of the event, so all other funds raised go directly to Cancer Research UK, local charities and sports group in north Leeds.” More than 350 runners took part in the event last July and they are hoping to attract at least 400 runners this year. “Last year we raised over £10,000 and in 2022 we hope to smash that figure and add to Gareth’s Just Giving total which now stands at over £160,000 (including gift aid).” GSAL is proud to be a race sponsor again this year. Entry is now open and the multi-terrain course starts at Cookridge village, before heading out to Golden Acre Park. You can enter the race by following this link: www.cookridgecommunityrun.co.uk. To donate to Gareth’s fundraising page please visit justgiving.com/fundraising/chemotionally-unstable Alumni
