18 ST JOHN STREET TAKE ON THE GREAT MANCHESTER RUN 2024

18 St John Street has put together a crack team of athletes and first-timers to take on this year’s Great Manchester Run and raise funds for two important charities. The event takes place on 26^th May 2024.

Over the last few weeks, several barristers and staff members from 18 St John Street Chambers have been donning their running shoes and putting in hours of training in preparation for tackling the 10k and Half-Marathon distances at this year’s Great Manchester Run. A 16-strong squad of seasoned runners, along with some first-timers, have come together to take on the challenge to raise funds for Cure Leukaemia and the Child Brain Injury Trust.

The Charities

Cure Leukaemia was established in 2003 by Professor Charlie Craddock CBE and patients Graham Silk and Michael Woolley to allow patients with blood cancer in the Birmingham region to access remarkably effective new treatments which were then becoming available. Since then, Cure Leukaemia has been able to expand to a national level, and we are now able to offer potential life-saving treatment to patients across the UK.

Cure Leukaemia is an important charity personally for our Family Department’s Yvonne Healing, as her Grandson was recently diagnosed with blood cancer.

Yvonne commented; “My grandson Jack, was last year diagnosed with this terrible disease and now requires further rounds of chemotherapy as well as a bone marrow transplant. We are amazed at his strength, resilience and the fact he continues to smile and lift his family is truly inspiring. We are so grateful for all the support provided by the fantastic medical staff and my running for Cure Leukaemia, a charity very close to my heart, is the least I can do. I am very grateful for those who have already supported me through my just giving page and hope more will contribute to this amazing charity who support so many adults and children.”

Yvonne is also running in the New York Marathon in November, also in aid of Cure Leukaemia.

The Child Brain Injury Trust (CBIT) was established by a group of health professionals in 1991 to research and provide information regarding the effects of ‘traumatic’ injury on a child’s developing brain.

Parents of children with acquired brain injury were keen to become actively involved with the charity and over time the emphasis on the work changed. Today, CBIT is the leading voluntary sector organisation providing emotional and practical support, information and learning opportunities for families and professionals affected by childhood acquired brain injury across the UK.

CBIT works across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland and have a dedicated team of professional staff and volunteers who give their expertise, commitment and energy every day.

18’s Personal Injury and Clinical Negligence Department has supported CBIT for many years and sit on their Manchester fund raising committee assisting in the many enjoyable corporate events that CBIT organise to raise funds for the amazing work they do. Recent events vary from Treasure Hunts to Eurovision themed evenings to CBIT games, complete with egg and spoon race.

Chambers Director James Parks commented, “We are immensely proud to support these two incredible charities. They make a difference each and every day. Talking to our members and staff, there are so many of us who have been touched by the impact of these terrible illnesses and injuries and the support provided by these two vitally important charities is truly amazing. We hope for a sunny day so the runners can see Manchester at its best and we hope the crowds will cheer them on to fast times whilst helping them raise a significant amount of money.”