INTERNATIONAL. Harold Gittelmon, Managing Director of Harding Brothers Retail, is to run the New York Marathon on November 7 in aid of The Magic Wand Foundation, a special fund within the Willow Foundation that grants special days to adults with terminal cancer. Gittelmon aims to raise at least £10,000 for the charity, and is appealing to the travel retail industry for support.
This will be his first marathon, he noted. “I have never done a marathon before and, at 48, I was probably looking for a few more excuses not to do one. Then I met Helen Bull, who works for our customer Carnival. Helen is the most inspiring person I have met, the most dogged and determined, and she has provided that inspiration.
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Hardol Gittelmon: Running in aid of the Magic Wand Foundation |
“She ran the London Marathon in poor health and in defiance of her medical advisers, and if she can do that then I can run the New York marathon.’
Helen Bull was diagnosed with cancer in December 2007. At the time she was working as a Senior Officer on P&O Cruises ships. She then took a job in the company’s head office as Retail Manager, managing the shop operation across all Carnival UK brands. In January 2009 she was given six to nine months to live – that was 19 months ago, since when she has kept extremely active and run several marathons.
When the cancer spread to her spine, preventing her from being able to run, she looked for a project to keep her busy and came up with the idea of the Magic Wand Foundation charity.
“There is not one single charity in the UK that grants wishes specifically for adults with cancer,” she says. “I have been very lucky to have had holidays and days out since I have been ill, but I know there are others out there who may not be so lucky, hence the charity. I just want something good to come out of all of this.”
To raise the funds Gittelmon is appealing to all those involved in the cruise ship business – operator, retailer, supplier – to donate to this fantastic cause. His fundraising page is: http://www.justgiving.com/Harold-Gittelmon
More information can also be found at www.willowfoundation.org.uk/magicwandfoundation and www.JustGiving.com/magic-wand-foundation
