ABOUT

Who was Mary

The Story/ Journey so far

As told by Jamie Milne.

In the late 1990′s my late Grandmother Mary passed away after a lengthy battle with Alzheimer’s disease. I was an only child raised by my father and both my grandparents played a pivotal role in my early upbringing.

Jamie with his Grandad and Grandmother Mary

My Nanny was a quiet homebody of a lady with a relentless warmth, love and comfort for myself and that of my family. She was a home keeper and nester for me and my Grandfather whom was a hard working Scotsman, seasoned athlete and runner.
MMFM was a thought, a dream, a grieving process stemming from the day of Marys funeral, at the time of the service I was unable to gather words to describe or farewell my nanny at her passing even though I really really wanted to……..
So I promised myself that day in some way or form I would always remember Mary and farewell nanny in my own special way.

So it is with this promise MMfM was born.

Many Miles for Mary 2009

In August 2009 Queensland Australia we got funky. With a purpose of commitment, memory and a desire to raise awareness, and funds for various Diseases myself and an equally committed group of friends ran from Cairns to Townsville in 2 and half days a total of 360km.
It was a success. Jamie Milne, Simon Batt, Will Stormont, and Lars Kalland survived.

Pictured: back row left to right- cyclist support Hans Brenn, runners Will Stormont and Simon Batt, Middle-runners James Milne and Lars Kalland with Cyclist support Nick Rooms Front row team member and contact person-Vanessa Johnson

Many Miles for Mary 2010

Fast forward a year August 2010 the promise continued, 4 friends bound by MMfM run from the North Shore, Auckland to Wellington in 6 days a total of near 800km.
They ran to raise awareness, to educate and raise funds for some charities that had some meaning to the boys and those of our community and of course ran Many Miles for Mary.

Guy Wilson, Craig Dixon, Jamie Milne, and Jonny Gladwell 5kms out of Foxton by the Jandal fence, where they put a tribute to Richie Branford, the child that Craig was running for, the team fittingly put a pair of light blue Haviana’s (jandals), which Richard wore for most of his life whilst he was getting his treatments. A heartfelt moment, in a mountains task, the team reflected for a moment, and then set off to complete their task.

Near 800kms ran, 80 hours on the road, starting at 6am on Monday 16^th August. The 4 guys, Rossa and Bec’s had achieved their mission. To run from the Institute of Golf in Albany, to the Beehive in Wellington on foot.