79-year-old Edward to take on Derby 10k for hospice

A 79-year-old is to take part in this weekend’s Derby 10k in memory of his childhood sweetheart – while raising money for Treetops Hospice in the process.

The Derby 10k, which is set to take place on Sunday, is the city’s largest running event, attracting thousands of participants each year.

Among the runners this year will be Edward Porter, who will be running in memory of his wife Ivy.

Edward met Ivy when the pair were teenagers in their native South Africa, and they had a short-lived romance before going their separate ways.

Two marriages and several years later, the pair reunited and moved to the UK before, sadly, Ivy died of cancer.

Edward, who will celebrate his 80th birthday next January, will take part in the Derby 10k for Treetops, which is an end-of-life charity.

He said: “Ivy was the love of my life. I met her when I was 15 and she was 13.
“We were childhood sweethearts but went our separate ways and a few years later, I met and married my first wife Jean.

“Things didn’t quite work out with Jean and I and, after divorcing, I started running competitively.

“I would take part in ultra-marathons and when I was running in her home city of Cape Town, I thought that it would be nice to make contact again.

“The timing wasn’t quite right but, a few months after that competition in Cape Town, she called me. We agreed to meet up and it was like we had never been apart.”

The pair married in South Africa and, 11 years ago, moved to the UK to be near Ivy’s son.

Edward said: “Sadly, not long after we moved to the UK, Ivy was diagnosed with cancer and passed away.

“I briefly returned to South Africa, but the country was so very different to what I remembered. I moved back here to the UK, and this is where I call home now.”

Edward was retired when he finally settled in the UK but kept himself busy with various part-time jobs – including working as a kitchen porter at Earls Court in London during the Olympic Games in 2012.

He also began volunteering and continued to run in weekly Park Run sessions; 5k timed runs which take place up and down the country every weekend.

He said: “I run every day so I’m still very fit. I did the Derby 10k in 1hr 26mins last year but I’m hoping to get under 1hr 20 this time.”

This year, the Derby 10k, which starts and finishes at Derby County’s Pride Park Stadium, celebrates its 20th anniversary.

The event raises funds for Derby County Community Trust, but runners also take part for their individual charities.

Adela Appleby, head of community relationships at Treetops, said: “We’re thrilled that Edward is running the Derby 10k in Team Treetops and we’d love to hear from others who’d like to take part in any of our other running events or challenges.”

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