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Bud Baldaro with international athletes Hannah England, Paula Radcliffe and Luke Gunn

The University of Birmingham’s iconic clock tower ‘Old Joe’ is turning blue to mark Parkinson’s Awareness Week.

Birmingham’s landmark tower will change colour between Monday 10 and Thursday 13 April as the University looks forward to a fund-raising run on its Edgbaston campus later in the year.

The University is working with the family of Bud Baldaro - a member of its Sports Centre Team who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease - to host its annual fundraising event for Parkinson’s UK.

Bud’s Run takes place on Saturday 21 October and consists of a five-kilometre run on campus followed by a dinner in the Great Hall. This year’s event coincides with Bud’s 70th birthday and the University is hoping to raise £70,000 to mark the occasion.

Anyone interested in taking part in this year’s event can sign up at www.budsrun.co.uk.

After taking early retirement from teaching, Bud Baldaro became the University of Birmingham’s endurance coach. He coached top athletes including world 1500m silver medallist Hannah England, Commonwealth Games 1500m bronze medallist Bev Nicholson and twice Chicago marathon winner Marion Sutton.

Bud recently retired from his role as National Coach mentor with England Athletics and was inducted into the UK Athletics Hall of Fame at a prestigious ceremony in Birmingham.

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