Vitality Big Half 2020 – A Success!

27th April 2020

The family supporting team Merchy’s Stryders

On Sunday 1st March we saw our largest ever Gut Army in the Vitality Big Half take their positions. The 13.1-mile-long course that weaves through London landmarks was no match for Guts UK!

Our brave and bold runners represented our cause brilliantly. This year we saw patients running alongside professors of gastroenterology and families of those affected by digestive disorders. The famous ‘Merchy’s Stryders’ captained by Ian Merchill, ran in memory of his mother Pat, who passed away from pancreatitis.

This year, our runners have raised almost £8,000!

Our gastroenterologists (or Guardians of the Gut as we prefer to call them) were Prof. Matthew Brookes and Prof. Chris Probert. Both are recipients of Guts UK’s research grants and both displayed their passion to give back to Guts UK on the day. Power couple Chelsea and Scott also rose to the challenge on the day, a pair determined to fight stomach cancer in memory of Chelsea’s grandmother Carole.