Rugby players tackle half-marathon to get pool for disabled kids

9:30am Sunday 24th August 2008

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A GROUP of rugby players from Corsham have been training hard to make sure they raise as much money for a local charity as possible.

Among the six men taking part in the Chippenham half-marathon next month are dad- of-three Phil Kernan.

Mr Kernan, who is from the Cepen Park area of Chippenham, is treasurer for local cause SNAP.

The SNAP appeal was launched to raise £500,000 to build a much-needed hydrotherapy pool for St Nicholas School in Chippenham.

The pupils from the school, who are between three and 19, suffer from complex and severe physical and learning disabilities.

So far the charity has raised £150,000 through Chippenham Rotary, the school and people from local communities.

Mr Kernan, 39, said he had got involved with the charity when the chairman, Eric Sambell, sent a letter to the bank he was working in.

He said: "I was working in NatWest bank in Chippenham and we were sent a letter enquiring about opening an account for SNAP.

"I replied to it and after meeting the chairman, Eric, I knew I wanted to get involved.

"I wanted to have links with a local cause and after meeting Eric and hearing about the SNAP appeal I was hooked straight away.

"When you meet the kids at the school you realise how much they would get out of it and how important it would be to their lives."

Mr Kernan said he has been training with the other Corsham rugby players, who include Tony Iacono, Craig Avent, Martin Shepperdson, Jim Bennett, Steve Scholes-Hamilton and Jamie Dickinson whenever they can get together on the weekends.

He said: "Some of us are in Chippenham, some in Corsham and others in Bradford on Avon, so if we can all get together we do.

"I have been going out for nine miles on the weekends and then doing a few mile runs in the week wherever I can.

"It's not easy carrying my 14-stone frame around, though.

"I have never run before or done anything like this but I wanted to do something for the charity seeing as I am so closely involved with them."

"My children, who are nine, seven and five have been out on their bikes with me, but I think they will just be happy if I survive running that distance okay."

Mr Kernan, who now works for Natwest in Buckinghamshire, said he was looking forward to the race on September 14 despite his lack of marathon running experience.

He said: "At the moment the charity is looking into grants and lottery funding to boost the total amount we have raised."

Anyone interested in sponsoring Mr Kernan can visit his website, www.justgiving.com/phillipkernan and donate online.

• Chippenham Half Marathon takes place on September 14 from 9.30am.

The race begins and ends at Chippenham Sports Club, Hardenhuish Park, Bristol Road, Chippenham.