A COUPLE who ran the Reading Half Marathon has been a real blessing for a Twyford community centre.
Kirsty and Chris Payne said that they smashed their fundraising target – netting more than £700 for the Age Concern Day Centre.
Kirsty, who works for homecare company Right at Home, said that over the past year, she has got to know the team who run the centre and its as she and her colleagues regularly help out at busy times.
“I am really proud that so many people sponsored Chris and me for this year’s Reading half marathon,” she said.
“We’d set a target of £500 so to manage to raise well over £700 was amazing, and of course, it’s all going to such a great cause.
“Thank you to everyone who sponsored us.”
Inspired by their success, the married couple are now planning to run more events over the next year and raise even more money for charity.
And last week the Paynes paid a surprise visit to the Day Centre and presented the total amount raised to the Age Concern Day Centre Management team of Debs Heffernan and Ekin Brigden.
Debs said: “This is an amazing effort by a wonderful couple – we are truly grateful.
We now have the enjoyable task of deciding how to spend the money to make the Day Centre even more comfortable and welcoming for our lovely members.
“Thanks Kirsty and Chris – what a team.”
The Twyford Day Centre is in Polehampton Close and aims to help those who are frail, lonely or isolated and to offer respite to their Carers. Members come from Twyford, Hurst, Wargrave, Sonning, Ruscombe and Charvil.
For more details, call the centre on 0118 934 4040 or visit www.ageconcerntwyford.org.uk