Hundreds of people descended on South Park in Darlington this morning to run a parkrun in memory of Gary Read, who died earlier this week.
Gary, of Darlington, died in the early hours of Monday, March 16, after being diagnosed with colorectal cancer.
The 45-year-old leaves behind his wife Rachel, children Sophie, 25 and Kieran, 22, their dog Willow and a huge group of friends and supporters.
He was a well-known and well-loved face on the Darlington running scene, often offering words of encouragement to other runners.
Before the parkrun started, the chair of Quakers Running Club, Rob Gilham, spoke to The Northern Echo, paying tribute to a “huge part of parkrun”.
Rob said: “Every time he ran here, all he ever did was encourage runners. He would stop, go back, and sacrifice his own time just to help other people.
“To honour him in this little way is the least we can do.
“The one thing that's come out of it is the sort of hashtag, #bemoregary, and that just sums it up.
“If everyone can be like him, be a bit more considerate, be kind, think of other people, inspire other people, if we can all take that from what he did, then his legacy lives on.”
And the chair of Quakers Running Club paid his own tribute to Gary.
He said: “Gary was a long-term member, a friend. I raced against him on so many occasions; I listened to his excellent karaoke events.
“The guy was a friend, a running colleague, everything. He is going to be very, very missed.”
It was an emotional morning before the run started, as hundreds of runners lined up at the start line.
Before the start of the run, Rob led a group tribute to Gary, saying: “At every parkrun, we all recall him chanting words of encouragement at every participant.
“He will be greatly missed by so many. Our heartfelt condolences go out to his wife, Rachel and his children, Sophie and Kieran.
“As we go round today, I ask you to think of him. Be kind, be thoughtful, be encouraging to everyone taking part.
“And in doing so, we can all be more Gary.”
A rapturous applause and some tears met the end of Rob’s tribute, before the run got underway.
One parkrun volunteer had a sign with a quote from Gary, which read: “You’re a machine,” to encourage runners.
Gary was diagnosed with colorectal cancer on June 11, 2025, and on New Year’s Eve he was told the disease was terminal.
Despite his diagnosis, he spent his final months raising money, spending time with family and friends and sharing messages encouraging people to take their health seriously.
Gary was a former assistant highways engineer with Darlington Borough Council.
He worked at the authority for eight years before being forced to retire due to ill health.
In January, hundreds of people gathered in South Park to support Gary at a fundraising run organised in his honour.
Crowds packed the park on Sunday, January 11, raising more than £20,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support.
During his illness, Gary also spoke of his pride in his family and their plans to run the Darlington 10k together in August.
He said: “I'll fight to still be with you at that date, but if not, there's no doubt I'll be with you every step of the way, looking down in awe and admiration at you both.
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“Rachel Read has also signed up for this, Sophie and Kieran, so you'll have half of me on the course with you all the way round.
“So proud of my family.”
Gary also managed to meet his newborn niece, Isla, something he was determined to be around for.
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