Charity Signs Jo Pavey

3 FEB2011

Three-times Olympian Jo Pavey has been announced as the new running ambassador for children's charity Dreams Come True. The former Common-wealth Games silver medallist has joined the national charity which serves the whole of the UK with the mission of bringing joy to children who are terminally or seriously ill by making their treasured dreams come true.

Jo, a mother herself to sixteen month old Jacob, has twice won the 10k Great Manchester Run and is now an elite road runner due to make her marathon debut in London this year. "When Dreams Come True approached me to become involved with their charity it made perfect sense as it gave me the opportunity to combine my running career with a children's charity". she said.

"Dreams Come True will have over 100 runners in this year's event and I am thrilled to be part of such a good cause". A three-time national track champion in the women's 5000 m she is currently second on the British all-time list for 5000m with a time of 14 minutes 39.96 seconds, behind the record holder Paula Radcliffe.

As a senior athlete she is now coached by her husband and manager Gavin Pavey who has guided her road running career with major race wins including the Great South Run (2006) and the Great Manchester Run (2007, 2008).

She also finished 3rd (winner Gete Wami, Ethiopia) in the Great North Run (2008) in the closest finishes the event has seen with two seconds covering the first three athletes.

Having given birth to Jacob in 2009, Jo returned to competition in April 2010, finishing second to Freya Murray at the Great Ireland Run, but she was not disappointed and said she was very pleased with a strong return race after her year out.