'It honours my brother's spirit': Cookridge Community Run honours legacy of inspirational fundraiser
Avid sportsman Gareth Dunn had an ability to light up any room he walked in, according to his brother Rhys.
In his lifetime, Gareth raised more than £100,000 for Cancer Research UK all while himself battling terminal cancer.
After his death, aged 27 in 2018, his family decided to create the Cookridge Community Run to continue his legacy.
Now in its seventh year, the event is on track to match Gareth’s initial fundraising target of £100,000 and Gareth’s family are encouraging Leeds locals to help them reach this milestone.
Last year, more than 400 runners took part in the event while hundreds of others watched and volunteered.
For Gareth’s brother Rhys, this "vibrant atmosphere” demonstrates exactly what the Cookridge Community Run is about: uniting the community.
Rhys said: “Ultimately, we’ve always positioned this race as a community event - it says it in the name, it’s something that’s rooted in the community, for the community and by the community.
“It runs on as that spirit of my brother to bring people together.”
Gareth was first diagnosed with Synovial sarcoma, a rare and aggressive form of cancer, in his right foot in 2014. A right leg amputation changed his life plan to train as a military officer, but Gareth adapted and he began training for the Paralympics.
In 2017, Gareth was given a devastating new blow as he was diagnosed with secondary cancer in his lungs. As he was told he had 18 months left to live, Gareth was determined to raise as much money and awareness for Cancer Research UK as possible. This led him to sharing his story on his blog Chemotionally Unstable, and completing the London Marathon in 2018.
Before the Cookridge Community Run, Gareth’s family had no experience in organising an event on this scale. Yet, inspired by how Gareth himself was never afraid to try something different, they have been motivated to put all their energy into making the Cookridge Community Run possible.
Rhys said: “It’s outside our comfort zone but I take comfort that Gareth would just give it a go.
“We just gave it a go and it’s been successful and it's stuck.”
Gareth’s friends and family have continued using his original JustGiving page to raise money to support Cancer Research UK and other causes close to Gareth’s heart. Now, eight years after its original creation, the page is close to reaching £200,000 in donations. This means that the annual fundraising event is close to matching the amount of money that Gareth raised in his lifetime.
Rhys hopes that this will motivate more people to support the Cookridge Community Run whether as a runner, volunteer, or spectator.
Rhys said: “In two years, Gareth raised £100,000 and in seven years we’ve almost matched that.
“The big thing we want to celebrate this year is hopefully we’ll reach the £200,000 mark matching Gareth’s £100,000 that he raised when he was alive.
“Help us reach that amazing milestone.”
The Cookridge Community Run will take place at Cookridge Village Scout Hall on May 17.
Money raised will be donated to Cancer Research UK specifically for Sarcoma research, and to local scouts and sports initiatives to honour Gareth’s own background as an avid sportsman.
If you are interested in taking part in the Cookridge Community Run, visit the event’s website to sign up.
Meanwhile, if you’d like to donate directly to the Cookridge Community Run fundraiser, visit the Chemotionally Unstable JustGiving page.