Runner Jenny in race for award (From Kidderminster Shuttle)

Runner Jenny in race for award

7:00am Friday 14th September 2012 in News By Cadisha Brown

MARATHON runner Jenny Adkins has hotfooted it into the final heat of a contest for her dedication to raising cash for serving and retired firefighters.

Mrs Adkins, of Kidderminster, is in the running to scoop a Spirit of Fire award after raising £4,000 for The Fire Fighters Charity – which supports serving and retired firefighters, fire personnel and their families – since taking up marathons last September.

She has been nominated in The Fire Fighters Charity Supporter of the Year category along with three other hopefuls.

Mrs Adkins, whose husband Paul is a Kidderminster firefighter, started raising cash for the charity after receiving physiotherapy at its rehabilitation centre Harcombe House, in Devon, when she injured her ankle in a charity run two years ago.

“I was there for two weeks so I thought it would be nice to give something back,” said Mrs Adkins, a community health nurse, of Merton Close.

“I didn’t think I would ever run again after the accident and since then I have done the London Marathon and about 10 half-marathons.”

The charity’s website described Mrs Adkins, who is gearing up to run the New York Marathon in November, as ”an excellent ambassador for the charity”.

“It’s nice to be acknowledged,”

she said. “I was a bit overwhelmed when I had the phone call to say I had been nominated. It felt great.”

The awards ceremony will be held on October 19.

“It would be absolutely lovely to win,” Mrs Adkins said. “It would just be amazing. I don’t expect to win but if I do it would be great.”