NINO Bartolomei Junior, son of the well-loved Reading restaurateur Nino Bartolomei Senior, will run the London Marathon in his late father’s memory.
For four decades, Nino Snr. owned several restaurants across Reading which were known for their ‘personable service’ and he himself known as a very popular member of the community.
In this time, he served 1,000’s of local residents and Nino Jr. hopes customers’ fond memories of his service will encourage them to donate to his cause.
Nino Jr. will run the London Half Marathon on April 26 to raise money in his father’s memory for the Sue Ryder Hospice, The Duchess of Kent.
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The charity supported Nino Sr. in the latter stages of his life after he was diagnosed as terminally ill in October 2017. He passed away in March 2018.
The restaurateur's former and some still running eateries included Nino’s Winchester, Nino’s Market Place, Nino’s 2, Nino’s Wine Bar, Nino’s Quattro, Mama Mia - Reading, Nino’s Farnborough, Nino’s on the Bridge, Azzurro - Caversham, Nino’s Tenerife, Nino’s Trattoria.
Nino Jr. speaks of the “incredible” care that his father received at the Sue Ryder Hospice and is keen to support Sue Ryder as much as he can.
He said: “I passionately want to support Sue Ryder so that they can continue to be there for all other families in need, like they were there for us when we needed them.
“This will be by far my biggest challenge to date, as other than “running” around the restaurant, I have little previous running experience.
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The runner added: "In his memory, I really hope that people support me in this fundraiser. I would be so grateful for anything that anyone could donate, no matter how small.”
Nino is aiming to raise £5,000 by April, and he has already raised £1,675 which amounts to 33per cent of the total goal.
If you wish to donate, you can find the JustGiving page here justgiving.com/fundraising/ninoslondonmarathonb.
Alternatively, you can go to his restaurant, Nino’s Trattoria, based in Pangbourne, for a sponsorship form.
This is not the first time the restaurant has looked to support the Hospice as they hold coffee mornings and charitable menu dishes.
Only last year they helped raise over £6,300 for Sue Ryder as part of the ‘Love Your Hospice’ campaign readingchronicle.co.uk/news/17449709.sue-ryder-received-more-than-6300-from-the-love-your-hospice-campaign/
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