Bradford couple combining Great Manchester Run with wedding

60-year-old Graeme Orme and 57-year-old Cheryl Hornby will be taking part in The Great Manchester Run next month, the day after their wedding on 21 May. The couple have decided that rather than send their guests a traditional wedding list, they will ask them instead to donate to child development charity Compassion UK.

Graeme and Cheryl have been together eight years after meeting online. “We met as walking partners and ended up as an item!” Cheryl reflects. The couple have supported 9-year-old Mayra, from Bolivia for over two years through Compassion UK so decided to combine the run and their wedding in an effort to raise money for the child development charity.

“We decided to sponsor a girl from South America a few years ago.” explains Cheryl. “We wanted to sponsor a girl as girls living in poverty tend to be more vulnerable. Her tutor used to write to us on her behalf and now she’s starting to write the letters herself. We can see how her drawing and language are improving; it’s lovely to see her grow.

“We’d love to have Mayra be a part of our wedding day so that we will have a photo of her at the reception and maybe use the national flower of Bolivia somewhere and have child sponsorship forms available for people to fill out. This isn’t about us; we’re two people who have everything we need. If even one of our wedding guests decides to support another child, it will be one more child who will be assisted to reach their full potential.”

For more information and photographs contact Ella Dickinson ellaD@compassionuk.org or call 07840 203332