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Running to raise awareness – Rob Stiles taking on the Manchester Half Marathon

Posted on September 28 2022

We’re delighted to have two fantastic individuals running to raise awareness and funds for our work at the upcoming Manchester Half Marathon - including the son of a World Cup Winner!

Rob Stiles (pictured top right) will be donning his running shoes for us to take on the challenge around Manchester next month, with his main aim focusing on raising awareness of our work.

“I know about Sporting Memories because of the club that is run at Chorley (Football Club) and within that group there are some former players who were managed by my dad at Preston.

“Those players were heroes of mine when I was young, so to see them enjoying the Sporting Memories club and getting something positive from it is great.”

Rob’s father, the great English and Manchester United midfielder Nobby, lived with dementia in the later stages of his life and Rob recalled how the importance of remembering helped to keep part of his father with him.

“Speaking from my dad’s experience, as his condition started to get worse one thing he could relate to was when he watched old videos from the 1950s and 60s. It would be amazing because he’d see something and then be able to remember names of the people on the screen and it would be like he was back with us.

“That’s why I think the work Sporting Memories do is important. It’s about providing those moments where those living with dementia can remember and also for their loved ones to relate to as they sometimes get moments where a person comes back to them.

Nobby’s legacy lives on today as part of the 1966 team that brought football home for England, however his son’s, including Rob and his brother John, are keen to build on his father’s legacy by supporting those living with dementia.

“It’s always nice to talk about my dad and what he did, and obviously me and my family take a lot of pride in what he achieved, but if you talk to anybody about him who knew him, they said what a nice person he was as well.

“One thing me and my brother have always said is that if we can help anybody that went through what he did towards the end of his life, then we will try to do so where we can.

“There are too many people that live with dementia and if we can help support causes which help those affected to live better lives, like Sporting Memories, then we are more than happy to put the vest on and run a few miles!”

“I hope that by running I can raise awareness of what you do as well as raise a little bit of money. There are a lot of charities and organisations that have a lot of people running for them, but with Sporting Memories I felt it was an opportunity to make people aware of the great work you do and hopefully encourage people to find out more.”