A man who has raised tens of thousands of pounds for good causes has been chosen to carry the Olympic Flame.
The London 2012 Organising Committee is giving 8,000 inspirational people the chance to be a torchbearer as it travels around the country.
And Rodger Davies, who lives in Jericho, Bury, has been selected for a life-time of fund-raising.
Rodger, 58, set up Prestwich Athletics Club with his wife Pamela, 57, in 1987 and has raised more than £50,000 for charities and people with special needs.
When the couple formed the club 24 years ago, it was only made up of their friends and family.
But now the thriving group caters for runners of all levels and has a junior section.
They have a main fundraiser every year which started as the Prestwich 10k and Fun Run but for the past decade has been the Prestwich Challenge – an off-road obstacle course.
The couple began by giving money to charities but for the past 20 years have focused their funds on individuals.
Rodger, who is still vice-chairman of the club, has finished more than 30 marathons but is starting to run less after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.
But he is planning to run another marathon next year.
It was his son Christopher’s idea to nominate him and he was also put forward by his sister-in-law, Susan Milligan, and a member of the athletics club.
Susan, of Scott Road, Prestwich, said: “Rodger’s a quiet man and very selfless – he was pleased to even be nominated.
“He runs his own business and loves running – he’s still working and running even though he has Parkinson’s.
“To be able to carry the flame after running his last marathon will be the icing on the cake for him.
“It’s like giving him something back for everything he’s done for other people.
“It’ll be a really nice way to mark the 25th anniversary of Prestwich Athletics Club.”
Susan, 62, is a clerical officer at Fairfield Hospital and money raised by the club has gone to children with special needs there during the past few years.
She added: “It really does enhance the children’s lives and makes such a big difference.
“I’m so excited that Rodger’s been picked to do this – he deserves it.”
(Above reproduced from the Manchester Evening News – Originally published December 2011)
• We would also like to congratulate Daniel Bird, one of our members and a former junior at Prestwich, for being chosen to be an Olympic Torch Bearer. Daniel will be running on the relay route between Salford and Leeds on 24th June.
Daniel is also running in the Greater Manchester Marathon on 29th April in support of the Challenging Behaviour Foundation. If anyone wants to sponsor Daniel please visit http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/SportDan91
