Two runners with bibs and finisher medals.

100 half marathons in memory of loved ones

Kielder Half-Marathon will be Andy Patchett’s 99th half marathon of his challenge to run 100 in memory of one of his best friends, Glen Gilmore, and the son of close friends, Patrick Crofts.

Glen and Patrick both suffered with their mental health, and both tragically passed away in the last couple of years. Andy, with the support of Patrick’s parents, Nic and Lynsey, is running to raise money for Contact Morpeth, a charity offering support and counselling to people living with mental ill-health and their carers.

His first race was the Great North Run in 2012. When Glen died in October 2020, Andy had run 61 marathons all over the world, including in Toronto, Niagara Falls, Prague, Dublin and Reykjavik. Andy decided to challenge himself to get to 100 half marathons before his 50th birthday, and has run 39 so far in 36 months.

Andy is down to his last three half marathons, with the Great North Run being his 98th, Kielder Half being 99, and the 100th being Castles Half Bamburgh on the 22nd October 2023, three days after the anniversary of Glen’s death.

Andy Patchett and close friend, Nic Crofts, father of Patrick Crofts, pictured above.