Why is Jim Thompson running the Hull 10K with a pink beer barrel strapped to his back?

Jim Thompson is a long-time Run For All participant who’s taken part in many Hull 10K races over the years. He tends to make a statement at these events - you may have seen him running the race in his full firefighter’s kit with a breathing apparatus on his back. This year, he’s doing something a little different.

Now that he’s 54, Jim has retired from the fire service. However, he still wants to run, raise money, and make a difference. This year, he’s running to raise money for a little girl named Eden, who is fighting an aggressive form of childhood cancer called neuroblastoma.

Eden is seven – she loves going to school, swimming, dancing, and wearing tutus. After braving her way through 14 rounds of chemo, plus countless tests and scans, her parents are hoping that that Eden can access the Bivalent vaccine clinical trial in New York. This is a potentially lifesaving treatment that would hopefully get her into remission and keep her cancer away.

Jim is aiming to raise £500 for Eden at the Hull 10K, but hopes to raise much more. While he won’t be wearing full firefighter’s gear this year, he still wants to challenge himself and make sure he stands out from the crowd. From his new job at Carlsberg Marston brewery, he’s procured a beer barrel to strap on his back. He’ll be painting it bright pink – Eden’s favourite colour.

Jim finds that running is an effective way to maintain his mental and physical wellbeing, as he’s suffered from PTSD as a result of some of the things he saw and experienced while working for the fire service. He especially enjoys running in the countryside and taking in the nature and wildlife.

As well as enjoying the fundraising opportunity, Jim loves the inclusivity and supportive energy at running events. Of the Hull 10K, he says, “It’s a very special event and day.”

If you’d like to support Jim and donate to Eden’s family, you can do so here: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/eden