Tribute to Teesside: Muckle runner enters the Great North Run as a giant parmo

Our very own business development manager and experienced marathon runner, Jill Cull, will be taking on her next big challenge: running the Great North Run in a custom-made foam parmo suit.

Aiming to raise £2,000 for the MFC Foundation, Jill will tackle the world’s biggest half marathon on Sunday, 13 September, but this time with an unmistakable tribute to the Teesside community she knows and loves.

Flying the flag for Teesside

The MFC Foundation is a charity that Jill and our teams support closely. The charity aims to raise aspirations and improve the lives of people across their region, which is home to some of the most disadvantaged areas in England.

Jill’s next big fundraising effort follows the opening of our permanent Teesside office at Boaz House in Stockton, our biggest commitment to Teesside yet.

We’ve always been embedded in the Teesside community, dedicated to giving back to through pro bono work, employee trusteeships and grant-giving, which is why we’re delighted Jill will be representing the region in this year’s Great North Run. We’re also proud members of Middlesbrough Football Club’s Community Business Club, a relationship that led to the genius idea of the parmo costume, complete with garlic sauce.

Paul Murphy of the MFC Foundation said: “When we playfully suggested the parmo idea to Jill, we were absolutely thrilled when she agreed. We even had the custom foam costume made specially for her to wear on the day. We are so incredibly proud to have a powerhouse like Jill and a fantastic, community-focused company like Muckle LLP supporting the MFC Foundation.”

Being based in Seaham, Jill considers herself an honorary Teessider and has clear roots in the community, having been with her husband Stuart, who was born in Billingham, for 16 years. Needless to say, Teesside’s trademark dish, and the inspiration behind her costume, means a lot to them both.

The fun in fundraising

Jill is no stranger to long-distance running and has over a decade of experience and achievements behind her, including the completion of full and ultra-marathons.

The Great North Run will be Jill’s third half-marathon this year, and she isn’t stopping there. She already ticked off Sunderland and Middlesbrough and has a fourth planned in Nottingham later in September.

Jill is an incredible runner with a half-marathon personal best of 1 hour 54 minutes, but the Great North Run will mark Jill’s first 13.1 miles in costume.

Training in the chicken parmo attire has already proven difficult, but Jill isn’t one to back down from a challenge. Jill didn’t even let a broken foot hold her back during the Carlisle-to-Newcastle ultra-marathon, continuing the rest of the race from mile 20 without realising.

Jill said: “The parmo is massive, wide and quite heavy. I have only done 5k as a parmo so far!

“I have done challenges before, but nothing quite like this. When I was doing the ultra-marathon, I ran the rest of the race in some discomfort without knowing what I’d actually done, so I know I can finish the Great North Run dressed as a parmo. It is not in my mentality not to, no matter how long I take to finish it.”

Competing with purpose

Jill is one of the 11 members of our Muckle Runners club raising vital funds and competing in the half-marathon this year. Four of our runners, like Jill, have chosen to support Teesside-based charities. Hayley Bartram will be fundraising for The Teesside Charity whilst Cassie Woodier and Rachel List will be running for Teesside Hospice and Lydia Stewart will raise vital funds for My Sister’s Place.

To further support the charities that mean the most to our people, we will be donating an extra £500 to anyone who raises a minimum of £200 through the Muckle Fund at the Community Foundation.

Mindful of the challenge ahead, Jill is determined to focus on having fun and making a difference for the MFC Foundation. "Because the Great North Run is largely centred on Newcastle and Tyneside, this challenge is really about flying the flag for Teesside. I have to mentally remember that I am doing this for fun and for charity - and that I am definitely not going to crack the two-hour mark this time! I might even celebrate afterwards with a parmo!”

If you would like to support Jill and the MFC Foundation, you can donate today.