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Friend Runs Great North Run in Fallen Officer's Place
12 Sep
Summary
- A best friend is completing the Great North Run for a fallen officer.
- The officer died in a car crash on the A66 near Middlesbrough.
- Funds are being raised for Parkinson's UK in the officer's name.
Daragh Burke is set to run the Great North Run, taking the place of his best friend, PC Matthew Blades, who tragically died last month. The two officers were killed when their patrol car collided with a vehicle traveling the wrong way on the A66 near Middlesbrough.
Burke, who has been friends with PC Blades for three decades, is completing the half marathon to honor his memory and ensure his friend's fundraising efforts for Parkinson's UK continue. PC Blades had been participating in a series of runs for the charity after his mother-in-law's diagnosis.
The Great North Run was to be PC Blades' second-to-last planned challenge. Neither he nor Burke had previously participated in this event. The charity expressed deep gratitude for the support and to Burke for stepping in to run.
