After the cancellation of this years ‘Race to the Stones’ 100 km ultra-marathon over 60 friends and family of the original Nicholson Memorial Fund/Atlas Foundation Race to the Stones team have walked, run and cycled between 6 and 12 July in memory of our three stars, Anita, Alex and Annabel as part of the Race to the Stones Virtual Challenge.

The team was spread across the UK and Singapore clocked up over 3,800 km of runs and walks and over 1,500 km of cycling between them. 

Despite the team not being together to complete the challenge this didn’t stop them, in fact it’s been overwhelming to see everyone ‘virtually’ come together and motivate each other along with the photo updates of their days completed activities/achievements.

Within the UK contingent of the team; Alex and Annabel’s grandmother, Brenda Nicholson completed a half marathon, and Anita’s brother Peter and sister in law Kez clocked up 100 km each on their bikes.  

Kenneth Laing was our oldest virtual team member, and at the age of 74 years old, completed a marathon distance over 3 runs.   Karen and Lee James walked 100km in 6 days across the Thames tow path.  Glen Smith completed 50km on the last Sunday in the Southend sunshine to make up his 100km and Rich Tidy kept the team smiling with themed days, kicking it all off with a marathon walk to the Principality Stadium! 

There were also many participants in Singapore, including a debut marathon from Andy Hare;  Bill McCormack and Patrick Donaldson completed 50 km runs; Ben Nicholson Geoff Lambrou made 50 km walks back to back with 35 km runs, but Fiona Morement completed the full 100 km in back to back 50 km walks passing some of the famous sights of Singapore in the process.  

Alongside them, Alex’s close friend and team mate Matt Power completed 100 km and Annabel’s former team mates in the Under 14 girls touch rugby at Tanglin Rugby Club clocked up a cumulative total of 191km to support the team and Anita’s close friend Hilary Phillips clocked up 100 km in four days. 

Congratulations to every single team member who took part and who completed their first marathon and ultra-marathons.  

The Race to the Stones event will return next year on 10-11^th July, 2021 when the team will re-enter. The virtual challenge created a great community spirit among the participants and we hope to see that spur the team on to next year!

RTTS Virtual challenge Atlas Foundation/Nicholson Memorial Fund Participants:

Andy Cook Andy Hare Ben Nicholson Bill McCormack Brenda Nicholson Brian Watson Charlie Dundas Cheryl Walker Chris Taylor Chris Hipsey Claire Gisby Claire Griffiths Claire Tidy Dave Ponsford Dawn Kiely

Emily Walker Fiona Morement Gareth Thomas Gareth Davies Gary Fowle Geoff Lambrou Glen Smith Heather Ponsford Hilary Philipps James Brooke Julia Wallace Julian Wallace Karen Dundas Karen James Karen Morement

Katie Jenkins Katy Lewis Kenny Laing Kez Wilson Lee James Leslie Shaw Lisa Walker Magnus Hansen Martine Waller Mat Kiely Matthew Power Maureen Heath Neil Harris Paul Ferguson Patrick Donaldson Peter Wilson

Rachel Drysdale Rebecca Holloway Rich Tidy Sally Pettipher Sam Tidy Sara Wilde Sinead McLeish Steve Jenkins Steven Walker Stuart Devine Tim Judge Tom Morrison Tony Chapman TRC U14 Touch Team Wendy Children-Smith