01 October 2010

The Ron Pickering Memorial Fund (RPMF) grant application process opens today (Friday 1 October) for 2011.

Applications are invited from talented young athletes aged between 15 – 23 years who are in education and may need financial help towards training and provision of equipment.  

To apply you must be a medallist from your National Schools Championships, Aviva UK U17/20/23 Championships, an international representative or in the top six of the appropriate UK ranking list for your event.

The closing date for applications is Tuesday 30 November 2010.

Application forms can be downloaded below, from the RPMF website at www.rpmf.org.uk or by sending a stamped addressed envelope to Jean Pickering, 11 Wendover Drive, Welwyn, Herts., AL6 9LT.

Jean Pickering said: “In addition to opening the grant application process, we’re also starting to put together a team for the 2011 Virgin London Marathon, as it is partially thanks to the indomitable spirit and the fundraising efforts of our marathon runners over the past 19 years that we have been able to give grants to so many of our talented young athletes. With the total of £51,250 grants made last January, our aim to give away over £1 million before the 2012 Olympics has already been achieved – now need to help raise the next million!”

Previous recipients of RPMF grants include Aviva Great Britain and Northern Ireland representative Andrew Lemoncello, the first domestic athlete home in this year’s Virgin London Marathon (April) and BUPA Great North Run (September).

“The RPMF was a huge help when I was coming through the ranks as a young athlete,” said Lemoncello, who will compete for the Aviva GB & NI team in October’s IAAF World Half Marathon Championships. “Their support allowed me to travel to races that I otherwise wouldn’t have been able to and these were the races that really helped my development as an athlete, learning how to run against better runners and making me mentally and physically stronger. It was motivating to know that I was being supported by a fund that wanted to see me to get as far in athletics as possible and it is partly thanks to Jean and Shaun that I am now getting to live my dream of being a professional runner. They have always had kind and encouraging words to pass onto me and only want to see the sport of athletics succeed.”

Pickering added: “Andrew’s performance – on his debut over the distance – was a fitting celebration of our fundraising efforts to date. RPMF helped him while he was studying in America and we look forward to watching his progress over the next two years!”