A crowdfunding page has been set up to help create a lasting memorial in Hyde to celebrate the achievements of local sporting legend Dr Ron Hill MBE. 

The Olympic running legend, who lived in the Gee Cross area of Hyde, founded the Tour of Tameside in 1981 and was an ambassador of The Running Bee Foundation.

He sadly passed away at the age of 82 following ill health in May 2021. 

Ron won marathon golds at the European Championships in Athens in 1969 and at the Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh in 1970 - the year he also founded Ron Hill Sports, pioneering revolutionary lightweight kit. 

He held a host of world records, won several overseas marathons and also claims the longest streak of consecutive days running from 1964 to 2017. 

On the first anniversary of Dr Hill's death, back in May 2022, Tameside Council said that discussions were under way with Ron's family to establish a lasting memorial to the honorary freeman of Tameside, who achieved so much on the international stage as an athlete and entrepreneur.

Councillor Betty Affleck, a Labour councillor for the Hyde Godley ward, said: "We want to raise funds for a permanent memorial in the form of a statue of Ron to be placed on the corner of Market Street and Union Street in Hyde." 

The target to achieve this is £15,000. If you would like to donate, you can do so here: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/ron-hill-memorial-statue

Steve Kenny, Lead of The Running Bee Foundation, said: "As Ron Hill was an inspirational brand ambassador to The Running Bee Foundation, it’s only right that there is a campaign to provide a lasting memorial to the running pioneer that made Tameside his home. It is even more apt that, as a man of the people, this legacy will be crowdfunded – ordinary people showing their appreciation for an extraordinary man."

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