TWO friends are to run the Berlin Half Marathon in memory of a Salford Priors teenager tragically killed after his bicycle was in collision with a car.
Sam Lewis Orchard suffered major head injuries in the incident as he pedalled along Buckle Street between Honeybourne and Bidford last September.
The 16-year-old former Alcester Academy student had been about to embark on an animal welfare and zoology course at Moreton Morrell College when his life was tragically cut short.
With the case now in the hands of the legal profession, Sam’s cousin Joshua Thomson-Smith from Astwood Bank and his friend Lewis Amos from Oakenshaw South in Redditch plan to run the Berlin 13 miler in aid of a charity close to Sam’s heart – The Children’s Kayaking Charitable Trust.
This will be Josh’s fifth half marathon but Lewis’s first and the two have been training hard to make sure all goes well on the day.
“Running has gone from something I put off or hated to being something that is a real passion,” said mechanical engineer Josh, aged 22.
“Being able to train and do those hardest runs to know somewhere, someone is benefiting from the funds raised is what it is all for.”
Josh has so far raised money for Alzheimer’s Society, Dementia UK and Help for Heroes, but this time it is for a cause closer to home.
“In September 2017 my younger cousin Sam sadly lost his life in a cycling accident. This is something I feel we will never get over and so carrying on his name through working to support one of his passions in life is something very important to me.
“Sam was involved with The Children’s Kayaking Charitable Trust (TCKCT) for more than four years. It was a pleasure seeing him progress there and follow one of his favourite interests in life.
“This year they aim to teach more than 400 children and give them a sport and interest to throw themselves into. I had a go a few months ago and was amazed by the work they do. Kids are learning, having fun and gaining invaluable skills.”
The Berlin Half Marathon is on Sunday, April 8 and the two pals fly out on April 6.
They hope to raise £2,000 for the charity and are already a quarter of the way there.
To support them visit www.everyclick.com/davidshortell.
For more on The Children’s Kayaking Charitable Trust visit www.tckct.info11.
