Runners Raise Money For Pancreatic Cancer Research

More than seventy runners and supporters supported the 6th Annual Forsyth’s Accounting Services Shawn Claydon Memorial 10km Shield and Mackay Road Runners 10km Club Championship event held at historic Queens’s Park, where valuable funds were raised for Pancreatic Cancer Research (Pancare). 

Special invited guests in attendance were the Mackay Mayor, Cr Greg Williamson who has opened the event every year since its inception, Ms Leanne Druery and Mr Jim Ford.  Their speeches were full of compassion and sincerity, provoking emotional remembrance and thoughts of Shawn who passed away in 2018. Shawn was a treasured son, brother, brother-in-law, father, nephew, cousin, athlete, partner, friend, colleague, coach, runner and club supporter of all those lives he touched.    
One hundred per cent of all nomination fees, raffle proceeds, race day donations and sponsorship funds will be donated to Pancare thanks to the generosity of major sponsors.

We also thank our Club Patron Mr Col Meng and his family for donating the zooper doopers at this event as well as other weekly club events on the program. The Meng and Leven families are so much appreciated together with all club volunteers who make the club the successful welcoming arena that it is.
 
Mackay Mayor Cr Greg Williamson and Forsyths Accounting Director/Partner, Nicole White were integral in setting runners on their way towards their chance to be crowned first male and female winners in the 2024 Shawn Claydon Memorial 10km Shield as well as gaining club championship points for open and age categories.  Incredibly stunning performances by the first male and female 10km winners, Paul Mackenzie and Alana Knezevic will now be inscribed on the amazing perpetual trophy featuring an image of Shawn in racing glory which resides at the Forsyth Accounting Services office. Five-kilometre winners, Jo Skinner and Craig McGahey had sensational outings, both taking home the gold medal prize in the shorter-distance event.
 
Many thanks to race day volunteers including the exceptional Andrew Short who was luckily on hand for the Vice-President when his car needed a jump start. Funds raised from the day are still to be collated and will be formally announced and presented to the Claydon Family for donation directly to Pancare.  Thank you to Shawn’s sister, Sharon and Jeff Stewart-Harris who did an amazing amount of work behind the scenes to ensure the success and continuity of the event. 
 
This Sunday’s Mackay Road Runners event will be a social run from the Bluewater Quay as a lot of local runners will be travelling ‘overseas’ to Hamilton Island for the running of the famous Hilly Half Marathon event in one of the most spectacular locations in the Whitsundays. 

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Contributed by Janelle Tilse

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Mackay Road Runners Club Vice-President, Mick Scholer, Mackay Mayor Cr Greg Williamson, Forsyths Accounting Services Director/Partner, Nicole White, Sharon Stewart-Harris, John Claydon and Bonny Claydon (seated) enjoy the 6th annual Forsyths Accounting Services Shawn Claydon Memorial 10km Shield and Mackay Road Runners Club Championship

The Forsyths Accounting Services Shawn Claydon Memorial 10km Shield winners, Paul Mackenzie and Alana Knezevic with Mackay Road Runners Vice-President Mick Scholer (left) and major sponsor, Forsyth’s Accounting Services Director/Partner, Nicole White (right)

6351 - The Forsyths Accounting Services Shawn Claydon Memorial Shield 5km winners, Craig McGahey & Jo Skinner with Mackay Road Runners Vice-President Mick Scholer (left) and major sponsor, Forsyth’s Accounting Services Director/Partner, Nicole White (right)

6348 – The Forsyths Accounting Services Shawn Claydon Memorial 10km Shield very special guest speakers, Mr Jim Ford and Ms Leanne Druery delivered personally emotive and meaningful comments at the 6th Annual event

6360 – Jeff Stewart-Harris (Brother-in-law of the late Shawn Claydon) thanked the Claydon family, Mackay Road Running community, sponsors, volunteers and supporters for a very successful event for a very worthy cause
 

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