FARMING MATTERS: Running to help farmers

Supporters of the farming charity, the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution (RABI) pounded the streets of our capital to take part in the British 10k London Run and to raise thousands of pounds for farming people of all ages who are in financial difficulty.
The team from Buckinghamshire Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution taking part in the British 10k London Run 2015The team from Buckinghamshire Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution taking part in the British 10k London Run 2015
The team from Buckinghamshire Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution taking part in the British 10k London Run 2015

This is the 14th consecutive year that RABI has entered a team in the event, which took place earlier this month.

Those taking part in the RABI team included Alan Read and Virginia Stollery from the Buckinghamshire committee and Charles Behrens, director of Thame Farmers Mart.

They joined an estimated 13,300 runners for a race around London’s famous landmarks.

Mr Read’s daughter Amy, who lives in Aylesbury, was running the race for the ninth time and was RABI’s fastest runner, completing the race in 45 minutes and 48 seconds and beating her father Alan and brother Colin who both crossed the line after one hour and 15 minutes.

The Buckinghamshire committee was also represented by Nigel Mead, Brian Gregory and his son Oliver Pierce-Gregory and Emily Cochrane.

RABI regional manager for South Central, Jenni Thompson, said: “Nine of the 16 strong RABI team for the 10k were from the Buckinghamshire committee and are regulars at this event, their commitment to helping farming people through their fundraising activities is to be commended.”

RABI is a grant making charity and gave out grants totalling nearly £18.5k to farming families and individuals in Buckinghamshire during 2014.