A courageous 82-year-old great-grandmother from Moseley is hoping to take part in the Great Birmingham Run on Sunday (1 May) after receiving some heartbreaking family news.

Chrissie Boyer is facing up to the shocking news of her husband and daughter being diagnosed with cancer by raising funds for cancer research by taking part in the Great Birmingham Run.

At 82, Chrissie is one of the oldest participants to be lacing up her trainers and taking part in the 10K this Sunday.

“I’ve run on and off all my life,” she said. “My glory days are definitely over so I won’t be at the front!”

The feisty great-grandmother from Moseley, with flamboyant purple hair, decided to enrol in the run and raise money for a charity that is close to her heart.

82-year-old grandmother Chrissie Boyer from Moseley will take part in Great Birmingham RunSupplied
82-year-old Birmingham great-grandmother Chrissie Boyer is hoping to raise money for cancer research

It was during the COVID-19 pandemic that Chrissie’s husband Tony was diagnosed with prostate cancer. Then just weeks later her daughter Rachel received shocking news that she had breast cancer.

Speaking about the harrowing family health news, Chrissie said:  “It was a dreadful time as you can imagine.

“There was no support during lockdown and we couldn’t see people so we just had to get on and deal with it ourselves. We kept busy and did a lot of research, but as Tony went into remission we then discovered he needed a triple heart bypass. Thankfully they are both ok now but it was a lot for us to get through as a family.”

Chrissie tried to keep her mind and body busy and healthy by running and by focusing on her two jobs – working as an exam invigilator and a steward at Symphony Hall.

“Too many people my age are old before their time and I just don’t understand why. Running gets me out and keeps me active,” she said.

Chrissie will be raising money for Prostate Cancer Research having run in a team last year at Race For Life to support research into breast cancer. “It’s important to have the support of your family,” she adds. “And Tony will be there on the day to cheer me on.”

The Great Birmingham Run will take place on Sunday 1 MayRangzeb Hussain
The Great Birmingham Run will take place on Sunday 1 May

The 10k and half marathon event is expected to pack out the city centre with runners and spectators on Sunday. The sporting event is a celebration of running in Birmingham, for all ages and abilities with music blazing, fancy dress, crowds buzzing, legs pumping and fists bumping.

The 10k route starts in the city centre and takes runners past Bullring and out along Pershore Road to Cannon Hill Park which marks the half way point – runners then loop round world-famous Edgbaston Cricket Ground and past Calthorpe Park, before a final section through Digbeth before the grandstand city centre finish.

The Great Birmingham Run takes place on Sunday (1 May) and organisers are advising people to arrive by public transport wherever possible to reduce congestion in the city centre.

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