Rugby player from Thornbury hangs up boots to help charities (From Gazette Series)

Rugby player from Thornbury hangs up boots to help charities

8:30am Friday 30th October 2009

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A THORNBURY rugby player has hung up his boots so he can focus on helping good causes.

Steve Coghlan, 46, recently completed the Great South Run in Portsmouth.

The former Thornbury Rugby Club player completed the 10-mile race in one hour and 43 minutes, raising more than £500 for Thornbury-based charity Meningitis Research Foundation.

Mr Coghlan, who works as a distribution manager for DHL, said: "Having recently retired from playing rugby, a sport I loved and had played for over 30 years, I have decided to put what remaining energy I have to good use before my old body decides it has had enough.

"I have completed several fun runs in the past but never anything over five miles. I treated it as a run as opposed to a race, although I have to say I don't think I would have caught Mo Farrah, who won the race, anyway."

Mr Coghlan said he chose the Meningitis Research Foundation in support of his wife Tracey who has worked for the charity for 13 months.

Meningitis Research Foundation helps to fund research into the illness, provides support to those affected and raises awareness of the symptoms among the public and health professionals.

Mr Coghlan said he now plans to do more running in aid of charity.

He said: "I found the run enjoyable and, with the exception of the last two miles which became a bit of a battle against a very determined and ferocious wind, not too difficult.

"I can honestly say that this is more likely to be the start of a new hobby rather than the last time I ever do anything like this.

"I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who put their hands in their pockets to support my effort to raise money for the Meningitis Research Foundation."

For more information about the Meningitis Research Foundation visit www.meningitis.org

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