Jan Pilgrim runs the Kielder Marathon to raise funds for BCR

This is a video of the Kielder Marathon on Sunday 9th October 2011.
The film shows some of the event and one of our volunteers - Jan Pilgrim, running in the event to raise funds for our charity.

At the time, Jan said,

I’ve always wanted a Border Collie but felt I had neither the lifestyle or experience to own one, then I came across Border Collie Rescue when I saw the charities stall at a car boot sale at Murton near York.

There was a poster advertising for volunteers at the York centre and I thught that even if I could not provide a home for one, perhaps I could help out by contributing some time, so I gave my details to the lady volunteer running the stall.

Shortly afterwards I got a call and was invited to the centre to meet some of the 23 resident guests there at the time

You cannot help but admire this breed of dog for their energy, loyalty and tenacity and I was hooked and am now a regular volunteer, helping with the general care and exercise of the dogs whenever I can spare the time.

One dog, Mollie, (see photo)has become my training partner and running companion so I will be wearing a T-shirt with her photo on it during the run

I like the ethos of Border Collie Rescue, the fact that it's a voluntary organisation, the care taken over the dogs, the careful rehoming and the hard work put in by the volunteers, particularly Nicki Oliver, who looks after the dogs.
By running this marathon I can raise some valuable funds to help the organisations work.













Lieutenant Colonel Jan Pilgrim was an Army Nursing Officer in Queen Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corps and has been Chief Instructor at the Army Medical Training Centre, Strensall, York, where a simulated hospital trained military nursing personnel for deployment to Afghanistan.

Jan saw active duty in many conflicts, including Iraq where she was in charge of the field hospital at Basra air base and frequently worked under heavy bombardment.

For her work in Iraq she was awarded the Royal Red Cross medal for heroism.

She has now retired from the Army.