Charity run for former MCN editor

A close family friend of former MCN Editor Bob Berry, who died from throat cancer on April 13 aged 73, is gearing up to run a half marathon in his name, to raise money for charity.

Andy Godfrey, 46, from the Midlands, is attempting the Newark Half Marathon on Sunday, August 13 in order to raise money for the Palliative Care Team in Portugal, who looked after Bob, and his wife Tammy Berry, at the end of his life.

“I was overwhelmed when Andy asked if I would mind him doing this run in Bob’s name,” Tammy said. “The money was always going to be for the Palliative Care Team here, I doubt we could have received better care anywhere.

“Other family members have done fundraising for cancer charities in the UK. It was such a relief when this team came on board, for us both.”

Berry took over the role as Editor of MCN at 28 – sitting at the helm between 1978 and 1983, when the weekly publication broke through 200,000 copies a week.

He moved to Portugal in 2006 with his wife, where the pair ran a guest house. “I consider Tammy and Bob as part of my own family,” Andy Godfrey said.

Target smashed

“I’m very lucky that I’m able to do this stuff at the moment, so whilst I can do it and raise some money for charity, why wouldn’t I do it?”

Andy had planned to raise £300, but this was upped to £600 within 24 hours and the total is over £1000 at the time of writing. Go to Andy’s JustGiving page for updates and to donate.