A GROUP taking part in the Great North Run on Sunday in memory of a special friend have raised £10,000 for the lifeboat appeal in his name.

Ian Atkinson, the windsurfing Island Games team captain and medal winner, died in September 2007 aged 33.
Wanting to recognise his achievements and to mark their deep affection for him, his friends and family members formed Team Atko – which gained its title after one of Ian’s nicknames – and this Sunday 19 of the 23 of them will enter the Bupa Great North Run.

The four remaining members have pledged to take up the challenge next year. The idea for doing the run in Ian’s memory came from Tim Huelin, an idea immediately supported by Ian’s father, veteran long-distance runner Roger Atkinson.
Tim said that he was inspired by Ian’s motto about sporting challenges of ‘go big or go home’.

‘He always threw himself in completely to whatever he did and loved big physical challenges,’ he said. Describing Ian as having been very cheeky, very funny, extremely generous and kind to others, Tim said that he would have been very proud that the funds raised in his name would be going to the lifeboat appeal.

His love of the sea had extended to yachting and he was a team member of the crew who won the Tournoi Challenge in 2006 on board the Rawlinson and Hunter boat. Tim said that any funds collected above the £10,000 pledged to the RNLI would go towards helping Islanders benefit from other interests supported by Ian. Among those taking part in the run on Sunday will be Ian’s widow Donna.

His father Roger, who will also be in the team, said: ‘It is a huge boost to us, Ian’s parents, to know that so many of his friends are prepared to undertake this challenge and have raised so much money, for such a worthy cause, in his memory’.

Team Atko’s exploits are unlikely to end with the Great North Run. Ian ran a relay leg in the Standard Chartered Jersey Marathon in 2006 and it is hoped that Team Atko will enter next year and possibly make that a regular fixture.
Details about Team Atko are on their website www.teamatko.org

Donna Atkinson (front) with the rest of Team Atko who will be taking part in the Great North Run. Picture by David Ferguson (00591977)