Andy O’Sullivan presents Olympian Diane Modahl with sports kit

Rochdale charity race organiser Andy O’Sullivan MBE presented four-time Olympian Diane Modahl MBE with over £2,000 worth of sports kit on Tuesday (27 August).

Diane, the 1990 Commonwealth champion at 800 metres, visited Andy’s home in Healey where she was presented with the kit for her foundation, the Diane Modahl Sports Foundation, which aims to build strong characters of under privileged kids in inner city Manchester.

Andy, 66, of Andems Runners, said: “Diane reached the very top of athletics; since retirement, she has put so much back into the sport.”

Diane said: “Andy is so generous to our foundation. This takes the chance out and replaces it with choice. The sports kits will be put to great use.”

Andy was also visited that morning by Pride of Britain award winner, Ella Chadwick, of Whitworth, who he presented with a cuddly teddy bear and a soft toy lion, in recognition for her courage in overcoming over 40 operations for a rare kidney disorder.

 

 

Ella was forced to have both of her kidneys removed and, up until a life-saving transplant with a kidney donated from her grandmother, she faced weekly hospital trips for dialysis at the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital. 

Even after her tough start in life, Ella has never let that stop her, pouring all of her determined efforts into supporting the charity and raising funds to help other sick children. 

In October 2018, the little girl was recognised with the Child of Courage Award at the Pride of Britain awards ceremony.

• www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/123489/ella-chadwick-wins-pride-of-britain-award

Ella has named the cuddly toys Paddington and Simba, respectively.

Andy has organised over 670 races for numerous charitable causes since 1983, many named after people who contributed enormously to the sport.

Andy’s long-running career started in July 1982 when, along with 2,000 others, Andy completed the ‘Rochdale Observer 7 Fun Run,’ raising £500 for Rochdale Disabled Scouts.

In 1991, Andy received the BEM for services to the police and charities, which was followed with an MBE for services to athletics and charities 13 years later in 2004. He even carried the Olympic torch in London that year, together with some of the most famous people in the UK.

He is currently taking a backseat from race organising due to poor health, and is currently awaiting radical surgery next month.

The Andems Runner has previously fought bladder cancer, having been diagnosed in 2015.